Our National Information Infrastructure; An Immediate Concern in National Security Policy

Abstract

The United States continues to experience a phenomenal growth in the Internet combined with an increased dependence upon the automated systems within its information infrastructure. This tremendous growth is accompanied with a commensurate increase in cyber attack and crime. Both nonstate and state sponsored enemies are becoming more organized and talented and experts view the greatest dangers in cyberspace as villains lying in wait withholding full- fledged cyber attack until the opportunity for sufficient strategic advantage presents itself. The United States current security policies and strategies depend upon voluntary adherence to government recommendations with few regulations standards or financial incentives to gain private sector support. The potential losses associated with failing to secure cyberspace are too high. This paper provides an assessment of national efforts to secure cyberspace and puts forward recommendations to strengthen this critical national infrastructure. The United States must reassess its national strategies and with practical incentives enforce stronger measures to secure its information infrastructures. Otherwise the nation will face unforeseen potentially catastrophic consequences.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 19, 2004
Accession Number
ADA423907

Entities

People

  • Brian P. Hamilton

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Cyberattacks
  • Denial Of Service Attack
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Systems
  • Infrastructure
  • National Security
  • Network Protocols
  • Security
  • Security Personnel
  • Software Development
  • Trojan Horse
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Economics
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Cyber