Skip to main content


Home Critical infrastructure and key resources

Critical infrastructure and key resources

(also CIKR)

Critical infrastructure and key resources definition

Critical infrastructure and key resources are the assets that a nation requires to properly function, including the services needed to process, procure, and protect them. These assets include IT, transportation, energy, communications, food, and water, among others.

Real critical infrastructure and key resources examples

1998: President Bill Clinton launched the national Critical Infrastructure Protection program in the US through presidential directive PDD-63.

2006: The European Commission published directive EU COM(2006) 786, designating critical infrastructure areas that affected multiple member states simultaneously.