I. IntroductionThe United States lives in an age where technology is advancing at a faster rate than the education of society and its users can understand. This is a problem because economic hardship and critical infrastructure are included in every aspect of this rapid technological evolution. Threat-related topics will be covered using multiple sources from the Internet and online library. An additional primary source will be drawn directly from the reports of Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper. Discussions will begin with what a threat is and how a threat is categorized; we will then move on to a discussion of the global threat landscape and critical areas for the United States, as well as what is needed for the United States to keep up with the rapid pace of its growth. Topping the U.S. intelligence community's 2013 assessment of global threats is cybersecurity, followed by terrorism and transnational organized crime, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counterintelligence and space activities, insecurity and competition for natural resources, health and pandemic threats, and mass atrocities. (“Defense.gov news article: Cyber ​​Tops Intel Community's 2013 Global Threat Assessment,” nd, p. xx-xx). Another topic that will be covered is critical infrastructure requirements and how cybersecurity is an important aspect in planning and maintenance. Further discussion will identify what state and non-state actors are and which state and non-state actors threaten the United States. With this information, a conclusion on how these global threats affect how policymakers attempt to defend the United States against these types of global threats.II. Which...... middle of paper ...... force and Federal Protective Service. Policymakers are responsible for the never-ending task of adapting to global threats and how they relate to critical infrastructure in the United States. .Works cited2013 Global Threat Intelligence | Solution press release. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.solutionary.com/news-events/press-releases/2013/03/2013-global-threat-intelligence/Defense.gov News article: Cyber ​​Tops Intel Community?s 2013 Global Threat Assessment. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119776Top 7 Developments in the Global Threat Landscape - CXOtoday.com. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.cxotoday.com/story/top-7-developments-in-the-global-threat-landscape/USA Patriot Act of 2001. (October 26, 2001). Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ56/pdf/PLAW-107publ56.pdf