1.3: Hands-on Activity
Overview
This three-part assignment uses the online FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses and exam certifications that cover the following three topics:
- IS-860.C: The National Infrastructure Protection Plan, An Introduction
- IS-913.A: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: Achieving Results through Partnership and Collaboration
- IS-921.A: Implementing Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
The focus is on five key subject sectors that the National Infrastructure Protection Plan identifies as “Lifeline” sectors: Energy, Water and Wastewater Systems, Communications, Transportation Systems, and Emergency Services. This module gives students a better understanding of what those assets are, what components are considered “critical,” and how to identify them for entry into the IP Gateway that serves as the single interface through which Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partners can access its integrated infrastructure protection tools and information.
Hands-on Activity Objectives
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of entities such as the DHS, sector-specific agencies, and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.
- Describe the processes that support critical infrastructure security and resilience.
- Define critical infrastructure, protection, and resilience in the context of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP).
- Identify strategies and methods for achieving results through critical infrastructure partnerships.
- Identify various methods for assessing and validating information.
- Describe critical infrastructure in communities and the impact Lifeline sector assets have on a community’s resiliency.
-
Discuss common standards bodies, such as the North American Electricity Reliability Council (NAERC) and National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST).
Independent Study Exams require a FEMA Student Identification (SID) Number. Students who do not have a SID can register for one at https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid .
Questions regarding the FEMA Independent Study Program or other Emergency Management Institute (EMI) related requests, such as requests for certificates, transcripts, or online test scores/results, should be referred to the FEMA Independent Study program office at 301-447-1200 or emailed to Independent.Study@fema.dhs.gov . Please do not contact the FEMA SID Help Desk, as they are unable to provide assistance with such requests.
IS-860.C: The National Infrastructure Protection Plan, An Introduction
https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-860.c
Course Overview
Ensuring the security and resilience of the critical infrastructure of the United States is essential to the nation’s security, public health and safety, economic vitality, and way of life.
The purpose of this course is to present an overview of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). The NIPP provides the unifying structure for the integration of existing and future critical infrastructure security and resilience efforts into a single national program.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the importance of ensuring the security and resilience of critical infrastructure of the United States.
- Describe how the NIPP provides the unifying structure for the integration of critical infrastructure protection efforts into a single national program.
- Define critical infrastructure, protection, and resilience in the context of the NIPP.
Primary Audience
The course is intended for DHS and other federal staff responsible for implementing the NIPP, and tribal, state, local, and private sector emergency management professionals. The course is also designed to teach potential security partners about the benefits of participating in the NIPP.
Prerequisites
None
Course Length
2 hours
IS-913.A: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: Achieving Results through Partnership and Collaboration
http://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-913.a
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to introduce the skills and tools to effectively achieve results for critical infrastructure security and resilience through partnership and collaboration.
The course provides an overview of the elements of and processes to develop and sustain successful critical infrastructure partnerships.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the value of partnerships to infrastructure security and resilience.
- Identify strategies to build successful critical infrastructure partnerships.
- Describe methods to work effectively in a critical infrastructure partnership.
- Identify processes and techniques used to sustain critical infrastructure partnerships.
- Identify strategies and methods for achieving results through critical infrastructure partnerships.
Primary Audience
The course is designed for critical infrastructure owners and operators from both the government and private sector and those with critical infrastructure duties and responsibilities at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels.
Prerequisites
None. The following is recommended prior to starting the course:
- IS-921.A, Implementing Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
Course Length
2 hours
IS-921.A: Implementing Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
http://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-921.a
Course Overview
This course introduces those with critical infrastructure duties and responsibilities at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels to the information they need and the resources available to them in the execution of the mission to secure and improve resilience in the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Learning Objectives
- Summarize critical infrastructure responsibilities.
- Identify the range of critical infrastructure government and private-sector partners at the state, local, tribal, territorial, regional, and federal levels.
- Describe processes for effectively sharing information with critical infrastructure partners.
- Identify various methods for assessing and validating information.
Primary Audience
This course is designed for all individuals with critical infrastructure protection responsibilities.
Prerequisites
None. The following are recommended prior to starting the course:
- Review of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and Critical Infrastructure Support Annex to the National Response Framework (NRF) documents.
OR
-
Completion of the following Independent Study courses:
- IS-860.B, National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP); and
- IS-821.A, Critical Infrastructure Support Annex.
Course Length
3 hours
Assignment Deliverables
- Completion of all three FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses and exam certifications.
Grading Criteria Rubric
- Students should submit copies of all three exam completion certificates.
Grade points: 300