Blockchain-Listed-Among-Covid-19-Critical-Services-by-CISA

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has included blockchain in its list of critical services. According to it, blockchain technology should continue running despite the coronavirus lockdown.

The CISA is a part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It named blockchain managers in the food and agriculture supply chain as “critical infrastructure workers” during this time.

The need for essential services during the Covid-19 spread

A good number of national governments have implemented compulsory social distancing measures. Several top US companies such as Google, Twitter, and Amazon initiated home-office working methodology for their employees.

The CISA has come out with an initial list of ‘Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers’ to help state and local officials protect their communities. This is to ensure the continuity of functions critical to public health safety, as well as economic and national security.

The CISA, however, pointed out that it was only a “consultative” list and not a federal directive or standard.

Why add blockchain to the list?

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is one of the key infrastructure services to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. This identification is based on the COVID-19 guideline issued by the DHS on March 19, 2020.

Besides, blockchain technology continues to gain ground in both companies and governments. This could be either because of their use for logistics work or for monitoring proficiency in supply chains.

Several sectors like food, human resources, transportation, etc have implemented the use of blockchain. Notably, the CISA acknowledged the utility of blockchain technology in the agricultural and pharmaceutical supply chain.

Blockchain technologies functioning in health are now being refined to focus more on the management of patient bio-data, providing directories insurance, and the credentialing of workers.  Also, some U.S.-based agriculture and technology firms already made use of blockchain to test the authenticity of their products, ease of recall, and the management of inventory.

Blockchain is also useful in the identification of supply chain players who get held back from carrying out their defined roles. With this feature, delays can be significantly reduced and customers are able to pinpoint substitute suppliers in good time so that business would not be disrupted.

Following the global economic lockdown, blockchain technology is really essential due to its response to the needs of the pharmaceutical and agricultural supply chain.

Meanwhile, the blockchain and crypto space is doing its bit by coming out with initiatives in these critical times. Earlier this week, Banca Sella launched Bitcoin trading services in Italy. In other news, Electroneum rolled out a new offer for AnyTask users until the Covid-19 pandemic was under control.

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