What and Where? Considerations for Command and Control of Cyberspace Operations

Abstract

The Quadrennial Defense Review initiative to "centralize command of cyberspace operations" and the recent stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command lead to questions regarding the command and control of cyberspace operations. Given the inherent tension between a functional command structure and regional command structures, what are the implications? How should cyberspace operations be commanded and controlled? The problem we are trying to avoid, other than the negative aspects of competing objectives between commands, is the over-simplification of command architectures or over-centralization of command for all cyberspace operations. The argument furthered here is that a universal command and control structure should not be applied to all cyberspace operations. Effective command and control in the cyberspace domain should depend on what cyberspace operation is being executed and where in the cyberspace domain it is being performed. The appropriate centralization (what and where) is then informed by the objective being supported by that operation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 27, 2010
Accession Number
ADA535700

Entities

People

  • Robert L. Ramsden

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Computer Networks
  • Cyber Warfare
  • Cyberspace
  • Cyberspace Operations
  • Department Of Defense
  • Information Operations
  • Military Operations
  • Networks
  • Social Networks
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Strategic Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

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