This report explores the manner in which protection goals are defined in critical infrastructure protection (CIP). It identifies and analyzes the protection goals in eight Western countries and, based on this empirical analysis, asks: What protection goals are defined? What purpose do they serve? What aspects do they cover? Who defines them? The report shows that three types of protection statements on three levels of strategy are discernible: protection principles, policies, and goals. With regard to the Protection Goals Model of the National Platform for Natural Hazards (PLANAT), the report shows that a dynamic, interactive process is most suitable and practicable. The report concludes that if protection goals are to be defined for the Swiss CIP strategy, they should be oriented towards protection policies, which help to translate protection principles into less abstract concepts.