An Input-Output Model to Determine the Operability and Economic Impacts of IT on Interdependent Industries

Abstract

Disasters, such as hurricanes and terrorist attacks, are damaging to various critical infrastructure systems. They disrupt supply chains and have adverse effects on the productivity of economic sectors. The IT sector is a highly vulnerable and critical infrastructure in the United States. This sector is susceptible to various forms of malicious attacks. Previous publications focus on security shortfalls existing within the IT system architecture and organizational policy. This paper asserts the need for a broader exploration of IT security as a macroeconomic system engineering problem. In this paper, we conducted a study to evaluate the inoperability impact and economic losses experienced by various industries due to a direct attack on the IT sector.