Cyber Deterrence: An Old Concept in a New Domain
Abstract
Cyberspace is the newest domain recognized by the United States military. One question often asked is whether or not deterrence is possible in the cyber domain as it is in the physical domains (land, sea, air, and space). Deterrence, simply put, is convincing an opponent that the potential value gained in an attack is not worth the cost or potential cost of the attack itself. Certain aspects of the cyber domain certainly affect this calculation, such as the monetary cost of cyber operations, the ability to attribute an attack in cyberspace, or the ill-defined nature of permissible behavior in cyberspace. However, these attributes do not fundamentally change the nature of deterrence. To successfully deter, the U.S. Government must continue to invest in cyber capabilities, lead in developing international norms for behavior in the cyber domain, and continue to bolster its domestic defenses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589940
Entities
People
- Michael J. Philbin
Organizations
- United States Army War College