Transmitting in the Red: US Dependence on Cyberspace for Command and Control as a Critical Vulnerability

Abstract

As cyberspace capabilities rapidly improve, the US military seeks opportunities to use them to exercise command and control over units in ways never before possible. By moving forward, however, the practice of traditional command and control has atrophied as continuous contact with forces became less of a novelty and more of a requirement. US forces became able to execute operations their predecessors would have struggled to achieve, but at the same time became incapable of operating under the limitations of their predecessors. At the same time, major powers around the world, including several of concern to the United States, continue to develop more advanced capabilities to attack and degrade systems in cyberspace. Even the most sensitive US military network, JWICS, has fallen victim to hacking. The US need for cyberspace to be effective in combat leaves the forces in danger because the United States cannot ensure the use of cyber.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 28, 2012
Accession Number
AD1176064

Entities

People

  • Kevin R. Yost

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Computers
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Department Of Defense
  • Homeland Security
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • Marine Corps
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Tablet Computers
  • Terrorism
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control