Overview of reliability and vulnerability in critical infrastructure

The concept of interconnection is an important one for a wide range of social, economic and political issues. Broadly defined, interconnection refers to a state of reciprocal connection. In this context, two or more interconnected entities can exchange ideas, currency, information and other valuable goods with each other, often for mutual benefit. For example, telecommunication backbone providers frequently interconnect at points of presence (POPs) or Internet exchanges (IXs) in order to accommodate peering relationships between large networks or to provide data transit for smaller systems. One obvious benefit accrued through this type of practice is extending the geographic reach of each backbone involved with the interconnection arrangement, providing access to new markets and potential customers. Over time, these interconnections can strengthen or decline, depending on the benefits acquired through interconnectivity. If the relationship between entities strengthens significantly, the condition of interdependency can emerge. In this context, the entities involved require the reliable operation of their interconnected partner(s) to function properly. If the relationship between entities weakens significantly, connections may be disbanded.