Methods of securing and controlling critical infrastructure assets allocated in information and communications technology sector companies in leading European Union countries

Critical Infrastructure (CI) plays a significant role in maintaining public order and national security. The state may use many different methods to protect and control CI allocated to commercial companies. This article describes the three most important ones: legislation, ownership and government institutions and agencies. The data presented in this paper is the result of research done on the most developed countries in the EU (United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy) and their strategic enterprises in the ICT sector, one of the most important sectors in any national security system.