Industry Sectors

Sector TypeDescription
aerospaceThe aerospace sector/industry comprises entities that research, design, manufacture, operate, and maintain aircraft and spacecraft technology.  Aerospace activity is very diverse, with a plethora of commercial, industrial, and military applications.   Subclasses (sector/industry): aviation
    aviationThe aviation sector/industry is similar to the aerospace sector/industry, but its applications are focused within the earth’s atmosphere.
agricultureThe agriculture sector/industry comprises entities primarily engaged in farming animals (animal husbandry) and plants (agronomy, horticulture, and forestry in part).
automotiveThe automotive sector/industry comprises entities involved in the manufacture of motor vehicles, including most components, such as engines and bodies, but excluding tires, batteries, and fuel [RefAuto].
biotechnologyThe biotechnology sector/industry comprises entities involved in utilizing biotechnology to develop products. Biotechnology is known to highly overlap with the pharmaceutical sector/industry, but generally, it has a plethora of use cases like in agriculture, food, and chemical sectors/industries.
chemicalThe chemical sector/industry comprises entities producing petrochemicals, polymers, basic inorganics, specialties, and consumer chemicals [RefChem]. The products (chemicals) produced by the chemical sector/industry have a broad range of uses, such as in the food industry, pharmaceutical, agriculture, manufacturing, and industries involved in consumer goods.
commercialThe commercial sector/industry comprises entities involved in wholesale and retail trade, generally without making any changes to the goods. The commercial sector, in this case, does not include professional services.   Subclasses (sector/industry): retail, wholesale
    retailThe retail sector/industry comprises entities that are involved in the sale or rent of goods to end consumers.
    wholesale
consultingThe consulting sector/industry comprises entities that provide expert advice and possibly implementation services in exchange for a fee.
constructionThe construction sector/industry comprises entities involved in building construction (residential and non-residential) , infrastructure construction (e.g., large public works, dams, bridges, roads, airports, railways, and tramlines), and industrial construction (e.g., energy installations, manufacturing plants).
cosmeticsThe cosmetics sector/industry comprises entities that manufacture and distribute cosmetic products (e.g., hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste to luxury beauty items including perfumes and makeup).
critical-infrastructureCritical infrastructure comprises sectors with assets or systems that are essential for maintaining vital societal functions. It is the case that different nations may define more or fewer assets as critical infrastructures. For example, the U.S.A defines sixteen sectors as critical infrastructures, whereas Norway defines six, namely, communication networks, energy, water and wastewater, transportation, oil and gas, and satellite communications.
damsThe dams sector/industry comprises entities involved in operating and maintaining dams. Based on its purpose, a dam can be considered critical infrastructure for a nation. Dams provide a wide range of economic, environmental, and social benefits, including hydroelectric power, river navigation, water supply, wildlife habitat, waste management, flood control, and recreation [RefDams].
defenseThe defense sector comprises government and commercial entities involved in research and development, design, production, delivery, and maintenance of weapons, weapon systems, subsystems, and components or parts, to meet military requirements. The defense sector covers everything from land, sea, and air defense capabilities and cybersecurity.
educationThe education sector/industry comprises entities that facilitate learning, such as schools, colleges, and universities.
emergency-servicesThe emergency services sector/industry provides a wide range of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery services during both day-to-day operations and incident response. The emergency services sector includes geographically distributed facilities and equipment in both paid and volunteer capacities organized primarily at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels of government, such as city police departments and fire stations, county sheriff’s offices, Department of Defense police and fire departments, and town public works departments. The emergency services sector also includes private sector resources, such as industrial fire departments, private security organizations, and private emergency medical services providers [RefEmSrv].
energyThe energy sector/industry comprises entities involved in electricity generation and distribution, such as energy generation infrastructure (e.g., power plants), operators (e.g., grid operators), transmission and distribution lines, and utility providers. Electricity can be generated from renewable resources (e.g., hydro, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal), fossil fuels (such as coal and gas), or nuclear power. The energy sector/industry overlaps with the utilities sector/industry.   Subclasses (sector/industry): non-renewable-energy, renewable-energy.
    non-renewable-energyThe non-renewable energy sector/industry comprises entities involved in electricity generation and distribution from non-renewable resources such as oil and petroleum products, gasoline, natural gas, diesel fuel, and nuclear.
    renewable-energyThe renewable energy sector/industry comprises entities involved in electricity generation and distribution from renewable resources such as hydro, wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal.
mediaThe media sector/industry consists of film, print, radio, and television, also when provided in electronic form via the Internet.
financialThe financial sector/industry is a broad term used to describe a range of activities that manage money, encompassing everything from insurance companies and stock brokerages to investment funds and banking.   Subclasses (sector/industry): banking
    banking
foodThe food sector/industry comprises entities involved in the processing, preparation, preservation, and packaging of food and beverages. The raw materials used are generally of vegetable or animal origin and produced by agriculture like farming, breeding, and fishing. Foodservice is also included and comprises entities that serve food to people, such as restaurants.
gamblingThe gambling or betting sector/industry includes online or offline gambling entities like casinos and other online betting games.
governmentThe government sector includes a wide variety of entities involved in governmental nature activities. It includes facilities owned or leased by federal, state, local, and tribal governments. Many government facilities are open to the public for business activities, commercial transactions, or recreational activities. In contrast, others that are not open to the public contain highly sensitive information, materials, processes, and equipment. These facilities include general-use office buildings and special-use military installations, embassies, courthouses, national laboratories, and structures that may house critical equipment, systems, networks, and functions. In addition to physical structures, the sector includes cyber elements that contribute to the protection of sector assets (e.g., access control systems and closed-circuit television systems) as well as individuals who perform essential functions or possess tactical, operational, or strategic knowledge [RefGov]. The government sector overlaps with multiple other sectors/industries like the defense sector/industry that comprises government entities that support a nation’s national security capability, and the emergency services sector that provides a wide range of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery services during both day-to-day operations and incident response.   Subclasses (sector/industry): local-government, national-government, regional-government, public-services.
    local-governmentA city or municipality level of government. See government above for more details.
    national-governmentA national level of government. See government above for more details.
    regional-governmentA regional, state, or area level of government. See government above for more details.
    public-servicesThe public services sector/industry includes services provided by a government to people living within its jurisdiction, either directly through public sector agencies or by financing provision of services by private businesses or voluntary organizations [RefPServ]. The public services sector may overlap with other sectors like healthcare, education, transportation, and utilities. See government above for more details.
healthcareThe healthcare sector/industry comprises entities that provide healthcare, meaning services to assess, maintain or restore a patient’s state of health, including the prescription, dispensation, and provision of medicinal products and medical devices [RefHealth].
    hospital
information-communications-technologyThe information and communications technology (ICT) sector/industry, also known as the information technology sector or just technology sector, comprises entities that produce and provide information technology services and products such as software, hardware, electronics, and telecommunications.   Subclasses (sector/industry): electronics-hardware, software, telecommunications
    electronics-hardwareThe electronics and hardware sector/industry comprises entities that produce electronic equipment and components and computer hardware.
    softwareThe software sector/industry comprises entities dedicated to producing software. 
    telecommunicationsThe telecommunications industry within the ICT sector comprises entities that produce and provide telecommunications equipment and services. Examples are Internet Service Providers (ISPs), wired and mobile telephony providers, and satellite communications operators. A satellite research and production facility would fall optimally under the aerospace sector/industry.
legal-servicesThe legal services sector/industry, otherwise known as the legal industry, comprises entities that provide services of lawyers and other legal practitioners to individuals, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits.
lodgingThe lodging sector/industry is a segment of the hospitality sector/industry specializing in providing customers with accommodation services (e.g., hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts).
manufacturingThe manufacturing sector/industry comprises entities involved in the creation of products from raw materials and commodities. It includes all foods, chemicals, textiles, machines, and equipment, it includes all refined metals and minerals derived from extracted ores, and it includes all lumber, wood, and pulp products. As a best practice, the manufacturing sector/industry element SHOULD be used when none of the taxonomy elements is adequate for tagging or classifying a case. In addition, like the rest of the elements, manufacturing can be used in combination with another element to provide extra precision in classification/tagging. For example, an incident that affects a company in the automotive sector/industry can be tagged as both automotive and manufacturing to indicate that the manufacturing process or a manufacturing plant was targeted.
maritimeThe maritime sector/industry involves a plethora of organizations and activities related to the ocean and ships and other floating entities. Examples are maritime transportation, shipyards, maritime equipment manufacturers, and commercial fishing. The maritime sector/industry highly overlaps with the transportation sector/industry.
metalsThe metals sector/industry comprises entities involved in the processing of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, zinc, and ferrous materials such as steel [RefMetals].
miningThe mining sector/industry comprises entities dedicated to locating and extracting metal and mineral reserves. Oil and natural gas extraction are not included in this industry, but they can be referenced using the Petroleum sector/industry.
non-profitThe nonprofit sector/industry comprises entities organized and operated for a collective, public, or social benefit compared to for-profit organizations that aim to generate a profit. The nonprofit sector/industry may overlap with other sectors/industries that also accommodate nonprofit entities, like public universities that are part of the education sector/industry, but they have a nonprofit cause. Further, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are not distinguished and thus are included in the nonprofit sector/industry.   Subclasses (sector/industry): humanitarian-aid, human-rights.
    humanitarian-aidThe humanitarian aid industry or humanitarian aid organizations provide material and logistic assistance to people who need help (e.g., homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines).
    human-rightsThe human rights industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in promoting causes associated with human rights either for a broad or specific constituency. Establishments in this industry address issues, such as protecting and promoting the broad constitutional rights and civil liberties of individuals and those suffering from neglect, abuse, or exploitation; promoting the interests of specific groups, such as children, women, senior citizens, or persons with disabilities; improving relations between racial, ethnic, and cultural groups; and promoting voter education and registration [RefHumanRights].
nuclearThe nuclear sector/industry includes nuclear infrastructure, and in this taxonomy, it is unrelated to how the nuclear power is used, such as for energy generation, radioactive materials for healthcare, or for developing nuclear weapons.
petroleumThe petroleum sector/industry, also known as the oil sector/industry or the oil and gas sector/industry, comprises entities involved in the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, and transporting (often by oil tankers and pipelines) petroleum. The petroleum industry overlaps with the chemical sector/industry in the sense that many finished products derived from petrochemical processing.
pharmaceuticalsThe pharmaceutical sector/industry comprises entities that research, develop, produce, and distribute pharmaceutical products like medications.
researchThe research industry comprises entities that solely specialize in research like research institutions, think tanks, and research groups/divisions within organizations.   Subclasses (sector/industry): think-tank
    think-tank  A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.
transportationThe transportation sector/industry comprises entities that provide services to move people or goods, including transportation infrastructure. The transportation sector consists of several industries that focus on transportation, including air freight and logistics, airlines, marine, road and rail, and transportation infrastructures like railroads and marine ports.   Subclasses (sector/industry): logistics-shipping
    logistics-shippingThe logistics and shipping sector/industry comprise entities responsible for planning, implementing, and controlling procedures for the efficient and effective transportation and storage of goods.
utilitiesThe utilities sector comprises entities that provide basic amenities, such as water, sewage services, electricity, dams, and natural gas [RefUtils].
video-gameThe video game industry comprises entities involved in the development, marketing, and monetization of video games. The video game industry overlaps with other sectors/industries like the ICT and, in particular, the software sector/industry.
waterThe water sector/industry comprises entities that provide water and wastewater services, including sewage treatment. The water sector/industry does not include manufacturers and suppliers of bottled water, which is part of the beverage production and belongs to the food sector/industry [RefWater].