Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office

The PDD-63 established the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO, not to be confused with the agencies’ Critical Infrastructure Assurance Officers) was established to serve this function and was placed in the Department of Commerce’s Export Administration. CIAO supported the National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-terrorism’s efforts to integrate the sectoral plans into a National Infrastructure Assurance Plan, supported individual agencies in developing their internal plans, helped coordinate national education and awareness programs, and provided legislative and public affairs support. Coordinating the development of and maintaining the National Plan is now part of the Department of Homeland Security's Critical Infrastructure Outreach and Partnership program.