Battlefield of the Future: How to Achieve Superiority in the Cyberspace Domain

Abstract

The Cyberspace Domain is a relatively new and complex domain that interfaces with the other domains of air, land, sea, and space. The Department of Defense (DOD) released an introductory Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace in 2011, followed by an updated and more robust DOD Cyber Strategy in 2015. There are obvious shortcomings to both strategies; therefore this paper proposes how a revision of the current DOD cyber strategy will achieve an advantage against existing and near-term cyber threats. In order to assess what changes are necessary to achieve the kind of superiority contemplated by this paper, the following methodology is employed; the 2015 DOD cyber strategy is compared to the 2011 DOD cyber strategy; recommendations are made to show how the update is pertinent to the existing cyber posture. Key recommendations of the paper include how to identify and counter supply chain threats, as well as a strategy to define a cyber risk management plan that adheres to a set of standards put forth by the government. The paper recognizes a lack of private sector accountability and identifies how the DOD can assist the private sector and enforce accountability. The paper also endorses improvements to the rapid cyber acquisition cyber process and suggests how the DOD can improve the development and retention of an adequate cyber workforce.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1041058

Entities

People

  • Dawn M East

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Computer Crime
  • Computers
  • Cyber Defense Techniques
  • Cyber Protection
  • Cyber Threats
  • Cyberattacks
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Insider Threats
  • Malware
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • United States Government
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Government Contracting/Procurement.
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Space