Department of Homeland Security: Mission, Operations, and Responsibilities The Department of Homeland Security’s mission is “to ensure the country is secure and safe against terrorism and other potential hazards” ( DHS Critical Infrastructure Security , 2016, para. 3). That being the case, the department coordinates various activities and responses to ensure every critical asset is protected. The department brings together many players from tribal, governmental, and private sectors to achieve this mission. These stakeholders play a significant role in developing the best security measures. As well, research is executed continuously to produce new technologies that can respond to various disasters and threats. The other responsibility is to secure and protect the country’s borders. Security measures are put in place to safeguard the country from terrorism. The organization “collaborates with different players to ensure resilient to every disaster in the country” ( National Infrastructure Protection Plan , 2009, para. 4). Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Initiatives Kim and Solomon (2013) define “Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) as a powerful concept aimed at improving preparedness and response to unexpected incidents that might affect the integrity of a nation’s critical infrastructure” (p. 24). Several CIP initiatives are therefore undertaken to support the integrity of every critical asset. Such initiatives are undertaken depending on the nature or stage of the incident. The first initiative is detection whereby possible vulnerabilities and threats are identified. The response becomes a critical CIP initiative, especially after the targeted disaster, occurs (Kim & Solomon, 2013). Recovery is also undertaken to restore the integrity of the affected infrastructure (Deshmukh & Qureshi, 2011). Planning and prevention are critical CIP initiatives undertaken to protect infrastructures from different forms of attack. CIP initiatives protect critical assets that support a nation or a wider region. Such initiatives are undertaken because an incident affecting the infrastructure can have significant implications. For example, an attack on a nation’s electricity grid system will affect the lives of more people and economic activities (Deshmukh & Qureshi, 2011). Several methods can be used to protect different assets. The most preferable protection method is usually dictated by the nature of the targeted asset. For instance, computer systems can be protected using physical security strategies as well as advanced anti-virus software. Remediation is the concept used to describe the major strategies used to protect assets from various risks (Kim & Solomon, 2013). Physical systems, barriers, surveillance systems, and security measures are also used to protect different assets. How CIP Has Advanced Between the Releases of the DHS and NIST The Executive Order 13636 of 2013 was aimed at “enhancing the resilience and security of the country critical infrastructure and maintain a cyber environment that promoted innovation, efficiency, security, civil liberties, and economic prosperity” ( Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity , 2014, para. 2). The implementation of NIST’s Framework for Improving Infrastructure Cybersecurity was the product of this Executive Order. To achieve the most desirable goals, the releases of the NIST’s framework and DHS’ National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) have been advanced through the concept of CIP. To begin with, the CIP approach offers specific functions that can be u