Introduction
Improving the resilience of critical entities has become a priority for the authorities around the globe. A widening spectrum of hazards and threats (e.g., extreme weather, geopolitical tension, supply‑chain disruptions, growing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in operational technology, sophisticated cyber‑attacks, hybrid threats) have exposed the limits of traditional risk assessment and risk management efforts. Because many shocks cannot be anticipated and driving every risk to an absolute minimum is rarely cost‑effective, attention is shifting toward systemic resilience: the capacity to maintain, or rapidly restore, essential services when unpredictable events occur. This has shifted the attention towards resilience in order to reassure service continuity in the aftermath of destructive events especially in cases when these cannot be predicted.
To analyse how tightly coupled critical infrastructure networks behave under stress, and to quantify the knock‑on economic effects of service outages, the Joint research Centre (JRC) has developed several tools and methodologies and has published several scientific publications in these fields.
If you would like more information about JRC capabilities in the field of resilience assessment, you may contact us at the Functional Mailbox contact us.
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a fundamental component in enhancing the resilience of critical entities, serving as the foundation for identifying and understanding potential threats and vulnerabilities that could impact essential services. By systematically evaluating risks, organizations can prioritize and implement appropriate mitigation strategies tailored to safeguard infrastructure against disruptions, whether they arise from natural disasters or manmade threats. This proactive approach enables critical entities to develop comprehensive response plans, ensuring continuity of operations even during crises. Furthermore, effective risk assessment fosters a culture of preparedness and adaptability, allowing entities to anticipate challenges and adjust their infrastructure and processes accordingly.
The JRC uses its risk assessment expertise for developing vulnerability and interdependency assessment methodologies and framework tailored to enhancing the protection and resilience of critical entities and critical infrastructure system of systems.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Understanding and modelling critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and security features is also a key element contributing to the resilience of critical entities. These assessments involve a systematic evaluation of infrastructure components, operational processes, and security protocols to uncover potential susceptibilities that could compromise service delivery or lead to significant disruptions. By applying these assessments, organizations can prioritize interventions and allocate resources effectively to fortify defences, thereby enhancing the robustness of their infrastructure.
The JRC works in this field along two axes. First, it supports the development of the Commission non-binding resilience measures guidelines, which defines the security measures that entity owners and operators should consider enhancing their security posture and overall resilience. The team also works on the development of specific vulnerability assessment tools for supporting Member States and critical entity stakeholders in their expected risk assessment obligations and informing resilience enhancement decision making.
If you would like more information about JRC capabilities in the field of risk assessment, you may contact us at the Functional Mailbox contact us.
Dependencies & Interdependencies
Infrastructure interdependency assessment is a systematic process of evaluating how critical infrastructure systems interact together, rely on one another, and collectively contribute to providing essential services and supporting vital functions. By analysing the complex physical, cyber, geographic and logical relationships among socio-economic components, the assessment helps prioritize resilience strategies, optimize resource allocation, and inform policy decisions to ensure the continuity of essential services. It integrates data-driven modelling, scenario analysis, and stakeholder collaboration to map dependencies, quantify risks, and develop mitigation plans, ultimately enhancing the resilience (e.g., robustness and adaptability) of interconnected systems in the face of hybrid threats and compound risks. This approach is vital for fostering sustainable urban planning, emergency preparedness, and long-term infrastructure development in an increasingly interlinked world.
The JRC uses a tiered approach combining bottom-up and top-down frameworks and modelling capabilities to assess critical entities upstream and downstream capabilities, and cross-sector and cross-border impacts to support decision-making and inform regional security and resilience enhancement options.
If you would like more information about JRC capabilities in the field of dependencies & interdependencies, you may contact us at the Functional Mailbox contact us.