Assessing the Risk of Catastrophic Cyber Attack: Lessons from the Electromagnetic Pulse Commission

Abstract

Reflecting on the similarities between cyber and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, the authors of this Note believe that the approach the EMP Commission used to assess the likelihood and consequences of EMP attacks could provide useful lessons for analysts grappling with the analogous assessment of cyber attacks. To draw such lessons, we need to describe the EMP Commission mandate, describe its approach to addressing that mandate, assess the achievements realized in employing that approach, and understand the extent to which the EMP and cyber attack problems are similar and different. While we draw lessons for cyber analysts, we do not provide recommendations, which should be based on a broader analysis than we have conducted.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 15, 2015
Accession Number
ADA621698

Entities

People

  • Antonio De Simone
  • James Scouras
  • Michael Frankel

Organizations

  • Johns Hopkins University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Communication Systems
  • Complex Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Cyberattacks
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electromagnetic Pulses
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • High Altitude
  • Homeland Security
  • Information Operations
  • Infrastructure
  • National Security
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Security
  • Simulations
  • United States
  • Vulnerability

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

  • Cyber