Definition
Preservation 2 means extending the life, survivability, and mission value of critical infrastructure under modern threat conditions.
Traditional preservation asks whether an asset can be maintained, restored, or reused. Preservation 2 asks whether the asset can continue performing its mission under foreseeable physical, environmental, technological, and adversarial stress.
Why now
Critical infrastructure owners now operate in a threat environment where cyber risk, physical attack, extreme weather, fire exposure, grid stress, supply-chain delay, and public-sector budget pressure converge. CISA recognizes 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose assets and systems are vital to national security, economic security, public health, and safety.
Operating model
| Old preservation question | Preservation 2 question |
|---|---|
| Can we keep this building usable? | Can this asset remain operational under relevant threats? |
| Is the structure code compliant? | Is the envelope aligned to mission risk? |
| Can we defer replacement? | Can retrofit create measurable resilience faster than rebuild? |
| Who repairs it? | Who owns continuity of operations? |
Source basis
Reference framework: CISA critical infrastructure sectors, NERC CIP-014-3 Physical Security, NFPA 855 ESS hazard mitigation, and DOE Office of Electricity energy storage work.