Digitalized Dark Art: Russia's Information Operations Against Georgia
Abstract
In this age of asymmetric warfare, cyberspace provides new opportunities and vulnerabilities for achieving strategic effects. As a revisionist power, Russia has embraced cyberspace as a key tool and a force multiplier to achieve its geopolitical objectives and target perceived adversaries. Since the Russia-Georgia war in 2008, the Kremlin has continued a full spectrum of information warfare as a part of coercive attempts to alter Georgias pro-Western orientation and undermine its national security apparatus. Based on the four distinct cases of cyber incidents from 2008 to 2020, this thesis explores Russias information warfare against Georgia and the role of the cyber component within it. The purpose of this thesis is twofold: First, it highlights the importance of understanding the Russias threat stemming from cyberspace, as it appears to be characterized by certain ambiguities. Second, as a result of examining the patterns of Russias hostile actions in this new domain, this thesis provides foundations for potential countermeasures by referring to existing best practices and experiences, which are built on the robust cybersecurity and cyber defense strategy models developed by Israel and Estonia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1126783
Entities
People
- Sandro Bzishvili
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School