Risk Management Within The Homeland Security Enterprise

Risk for most people is an accepted part of everyday life e.g. catching a bus or walking to the shop etc... will carry some element of risk. Risk is associated with our health, safety, security, well being, employment, education, daily activities, using resources and equipment and community participation. Some adults such as those who are disabled or who are older are usually discouraged from taking risks with their budgeting, planning, employment and their daily living skills usually because people fear for their limitations or that they might hurt themselves or others. Everyone has the right to take risks and make

Risk is defined by the probability of injury, harm, loss or danger. We all take risks every day, and don’t even think about implications.

Anybody who takes a full role in society takes risks: crossing the road, using a bus, driving a car, and talking to people they do not know. Risk may be physical (injury and accident), emotional (humiliation, sense of failure), or mental (stress).

Weigh up the risk: a risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was formed more than a decade ago with a very significant mission of safeguarding America's homeland from hazards, threats, and national disasters. This department conducts its mission through securing the country's borders, preventing terror attacks, and responding to incidents or threats to its citizens (Miller, n.d.). Generally, the most important roles of the Department of Homeland Security are to lead a concerted national effort in securing the United States and preserving the American way of life. The department was established in 2002 in reaction to the 9/11 terror attacks and has since developed a nationwide strategic plan for evaluating and updating its mission statement and effectiveness of operations. These plans can be updated and transformed to accomplish the needs of the Department for Homeland Security and the American people.

When conducting a homeland security assessment being thorough is of utmost importance. Organizations are multifaceted and as such, require examination in many different areas of day-to-day operations. Homeland security concerns are seemingly innumerable, with new threats emerging almost daily. For an organization to be effectively prepared to deal with these threats, everyone from the highest leadership to entry level employees must be involved in the organization’s homeland security initiatives (Fisher, n.d.). This is true of both public sector entities such as law enforcement agencies, as well as private sector corporations.

The ability of the Department of Homeland Security to effectively manage risk is vital to national security. Risk in general, is something that is permanent but because this is known, strategies can be used to mitigate situations as they present themselves. Government managers must manage risk in a complex environment taking into consideration the diverse missions and multiple objectives of public agencies (Hardy, 2014). The role of risk management within the homeland security enterprise was managed by best and worst case scenario planning. This is something that is inevitable as we are faced within a definite variety of threats. One way to grade or rank threats is through worst-case analysis. As this analysis can be used for worst-case scenarios the federal government cannot leave out lower ranking situations (Roberts, 2007). Since the Department of Homeland Security is charged with managing risk within the enterprise, a basic equation is used to help figure out different variables and how they would be affected.

What are the most significant emerging threats to homeland security? The most important threat that the Department of Homeland Security are facing are natural disasters and terrorist threats/attacks. Looking at Table 2-3 in our textbook the top two most costly catastrophes that the United States has faced so far were Hurricane Katrina coming in at $45,115 in insured losses and the September 11, 2001 attacks. This specific attack was the second most costly at $22, 739 in insured losses. When faced with disaster such as these many people in America feel the blow back. In 2011, the Secretary of DHS Janet Napolitano said, "...But threats from terrorism persist..." It is clear that Homeland Security is facing many threats, but the most important

Prevention is the bedrock of combatting terrorism, and referred as the cornerstone of homeland security. From the attacks on 9/11 to hurricane Katrina, an ounce of protection is worth a pound of treatment. Countermeasures need emplaced before an attack, or possible disaster strike. After the 9/11 attacks, the National Guard was placed at the airports, newer modified armored cockpits were installed in airplanes, and more air Marshalls were utilized

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the United States, a series of risk management evaluations were created by the US Federal Government to assess the future risks the homeland was going to face. When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was officially created in 2002, more effective risk management assessments were re-designed to evaluate the past and present dangers, prevent them and respond successfully to more terrorist attacks. Since 2001 until 2007, a development of risk assessment has been divided in phases to be able to reach a better formula that would analyze the risk within the homeland security and provide the appropriate fund to homeland security enterprise.

laws that established the Department of Homeland Security is the Implementing Recommendations of the 9-11 Commission Act of 2007or Public Law 110-53(dhs.com, 2016). This law addresses a wide range of the Department’s missions, including cargo security, critical infrastructure protection, grant administration, intelligence and information sharing, privacy, and transportation security(dhs.com, 2016). There are at least three or more HSPDs that are closely related with this law. I chose HSPD 3 Homeland Advisory System which implements a Homeland Security Advisory System to provide a comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts to Federal, State, and local authorities and to the American people(Bush, 2001). HSPD 7 Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection which was rescinded by PPD 21 Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience which addresses changes and revisions to critical infrastructure and key resources and in includes cyber security. With this specific HSPD I also include EO 13636 since it provides specific guidance, actions, responsibilities to the cabinet secretaries and directors of specified agencies to improve the security and resilience of the critical infrastructure cyber systems.(Bush, 2001). Another HSPD that I have found that relates to this law is HPSD 13 because its purpose is to protect U.S. population centers, critical infrastructures,

The first step in the process of implementing a Homeland Security Assessment is the Organizational Overview. The overview is a critical step in providing any issues, challenges, and homeland security strategies that already affect the organization (Fisher, 2004). “The organizational overview is the most appropriate starting point for the assessment and will provide a snapshot of the organization’s homeland security initiatives before the team begins the assessment process” (Fisher, 2004, p.28)

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan’s risk management framework is a process structured to protect the Nation’s CIKR, DHS, and SSA’s assets, systems, networks, and functions by minimizing potential risks that may compromise integrity of these very important sectors. According to free dictionary.com (2013), a risk is any possibility of incurring misfortune or loss; hazard. The framework of this risk management process consists of following a number of steps, in a strategic order, to best assure optimal security and protection. Though

Using risk management to expand the capacity in achieving the objectives of the Department of Homeland Security is critical to ensure the safety of the United States. In order to strengthen said objectives to fulfill its mission, the Department of Homeland Security created a Risk Management Fundamentals that provides a disciplined approach in the distribution and use of risk information across the entire department. Needless to say, the Department of Homeland Security plays a demanding aspect in leading the consolidated efforts through the management of the complex set of risks that face the United States on a day-to-day basis (Enterprise Risk Management Initiative, 2011).

Defined by Coopers textbook, risk is the exposure to the consequences of uncertainty and has two elements: the likelihood of something happening that has an impact on the project objectives, and the positive or negative consequences of something impacting the project objectives (Cooper, Grey, Raymond, & Walker, 2005)