Cyberspace Superiority: A Conceptual Model
Abstract
The Airman seeks air superiority; the Sailor, maritime superiority. Does cyberspace superiority exist? Currently we have no clear consensus regarding that question. Some authors, such as RAND's cyber expert Martin Libicki argue that cybersupremacy is meaningless and, as such, is not a proper goal for operational cyberwarriors. The US Air Force disagrees, identifying cyberspace superiority as a key concept. According to Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD), Cyberspace Operations, cyberspace superiority represents the operational advantage in, through, and from cyberspace to conduct operations at a given time and in a given domain without prohibitive interference. Joint doctrine takes the middle ground. Joint Publication 1-02, Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, includes definitions for air, maritime, and space superiority but not cyber superiority. To confuse the issue further, it notes that full-spectrum superiority is the cumulative effect of dominance in the air, land, maritime, and space domains and information environment (which includes cyberspace). Much of the confusion over cyberspace superiority stems from the difficulty of intuitively grasping what it looks like. This article seeks to overcome this difficulty by proposing a conceptual model of how cyberspace superiority works. By its very nature, a model is not the thing itself and is significantly simplified to facilitate comprehension and analysis. However, to be useful, the model must have sufficient fidelity, and any proposed model in strategy must account for the dynamic nature of strategy whereby the enemy gets a vote and both sides make decisions in response to each other. Carl von Clausewitz captured this interaction in his analogy of two struggling wrestlers, each attempting to throw the other. The model must do the same. We must also note that the cyberspace superiority discussed here has to do with conflicts between nation-states.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589636
Entities
People
- William D. Bryant
Organizations
- Air University