The Protective Security Coordination Division (PSCD) is a division within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Infrastructure Security Division that provides programs and initiatives to enhance the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure in an all-hazards environment.
Mission
PSCD provides strategic coordination and field operations support to reduce risk to the nation’s critical infrastructure from a terrorist attack or natural disaster. PSCD programs help critical infrastructure owners and operators and state and local responders:
- Assess vulnerabilities, interdependencies, capabilities, and incident consequences
- Develop, implement, and provide national coordination for protective programs
- Facilitate critical infrastructure response to and recovery from all hazards
This is accomplished through a combination of data collection, assessment, and analysis to give government officials and private sector owners and operators enhancement options to mitigate risk and build resilience. The Division’s activities also inform Department initiatives, such as infrastructure protection grant programs and research and development requirements.
Field Operations — Protective Security Advisors
Protective Security Advisors (PSAs) are on-site critical infrastructure and vulnerability assessment specialists deployed in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. They coordinate voluntary vulnerability assessments and training, support incident management, and provide a vital communication channel between state and local officials, private sector owners and operators, and the Department. PSAs also play a pivotal role in the Office of Infrastructure Protection’s initiative to increase critical infrastructure protection and resilience on a regional level.
PSAs also support development of the national risk picture by identifying, assessing, monitoring, and minimizing risk to critical infrastructure at the state, local, and regional level.
Office for Bombing Prevention
The Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) leads the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to implement the National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices and enhance the nation's ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate the use of explosives against critical infrastructure; the private sector; and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities.
Critical Infrastructure Vulnerability Assessments
The Protective Security Coordination Division develops and deploys an assessment methodology for a broad range of facilities and projects to identify critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, support collaborative security planning, and provide recommendations to enhance protective measures and risk mitigation strategies.
Available voluntary critical infrastructure vulnerability assessment programs:
- Assist Visits
- Infrastructure Survey Tool security surveys
- Infrastructure Visualization Platform
- Regional Resiliency Assessment Program
Leadership
The Protective Security Coordination Division is led by Director Scott Breor.
Contact Information
For more information on infrastructure vulnerability assessments, please contact NICC@hq.dhs.gov.