Department of Defense Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace

17 July 2011

in cyber warfare

As anticipated, this week the DoD released the unclassified report of the DoD Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace (DSOC) (pdf download).

DoD Press Release (14 July 2011):

 The Department of Defense released today the DoD Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace (DSOC).  It is the first DoD unified strategy for cyberspace and officially encapsulates a new way forward for DoD’s military, intelligence and business operations.

“It is critical to strengthen our cyber capabilities to address the cyber threats we’re facing,” said Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta.  “I view this as an area in which we’re going to confront increasing threats in the future and think we have to be better prepared to deal with the growing cyber challenges that will face the nation.”

Reliable access to cyberspace is critical to U.S. national security, public safety and economic well-being.  Cyber threats continue to grow in scope and severity on a daily basis.  More than 60,000 new malicious software programs or variations are identified every day threatening our security, our economy and our citizens.

“The cyber threats we face are urgent, sometimes uncertain and potentially devastating as adversaries constantly search for vulnerabilities,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III.  “Our infrastructure, logistics network and business systems are heavily computerized.  With 15,000 networks and more than seven million computing devices, DoD continues to be a target in cyberspace for malicious activity.”

The DoD and other governmental agencies have taken steps to anticipate, mitigate and deter these threats.  Last year, DoD established U.S. Cyber Command to direct the day-to-day activities that operate and defend DoD information networks.  DoD also deepened and strengthened coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to secure critical networks as evidenced by the recent DoD-DHS Memorandum of Agreement.

“Strong partnerships with other U.S. government departments and agencies, the private sector and foreign nations are crucial,” said Lynn.  “Our success in cyberspace depends on a robust public/private partnership.  The defense of the military will matter little unless our civilian critical infrastructure is also able to withstand attacks.”

On 14 July 2011, Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn III also provided remarks on the cyber plan at the National Defense University, Washington, D.C. Click through to read the speech.

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Pentagon gets cyberwar guidelines

22 June 2011

in cyber warfare

Today’s cyber warfare news:

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press
WASHINGTON June 22, 2011 (AP)

President Barack Obama has signed executive orders that lay out how far military commanders around the globe can go in using cyberattacks and other computer-based operations against enemies and as part of routine espionage in other countries.

The orders detail when the military must seek presidential approval for a specific cyber assault on an enemy and weave cyber capabilities into U.S. war fighting strategy, defense officials and cyber security experts told The Associated Press.

Signed more than a month ago, the orders cap a two-year Pentagon effort to draft U.S. rules of the road for cyber warfare, and come as the U.S. begins to work with allies on global ground rules.

The guidelines are much like those that govern the use of other weapons of war, from nuclear bombs to missiles to secret surveillance, the officials said.

Read more at Yahoo News…

The Cyber Warfare Professional

19 June 2011

in cyber warfare

Via Air & Space Power Journal: “The Cyber Warfare Professional” (PDF)…

White House Cyberspace Policy Review

17 June 2011

in cyber warfare

From the Executive Summary of the White House Cyberspace Policy Review conducted January 2009:

The President directed a 60-day, comprehensive, “clean-slate” review to assess U.S. policies and structures for cybersecurity. Cybersecurity policy includes strategy, policy, and standards regarding the security of and operations in cyberspace, and encompasses the full range of threat reduction, vulnerability reduction, deterrence, international engagement, incident response, resiliency, and recovery policies and activities, including computer network operations, information assurance, law enforcement, diplomacy, military, and intelligence missions as they relate to the security and stability of the global information and communications infrastructure. The scope does not include other information and communications policy unrelated to national security or securing the infrastructure. The review team of government cybersecurity experts engaged and received input from a broad cross-section of industry, academia, the civil liberties and privacy communities, State governments, international partners, and the Legislative and Executive Branches. This paper summarizes the review team’s conclusions and outlines the beginning of the way forward towards a reliable, resilient, trustworthy digital infrastructure for the future.

Download PDF.

China Points the Finger at U.S. as Primary Cyber Threat

17 June 2011

in cyber warfare

BEIJING (Reuters) – China must boost its cyber-warfare strength to counter a Pentagon push, the country’s top military newspaper said on Thursday after weeks of friction over accusations that Beijing may have launched a string of Internet hacking attacks.

The accusations against China have centered on an intrusion into the security networks of Lockheed Martin Corp and other U.S. military contractors, and deceptions intended to gain access to the Google e-mail accounts of U.S. officials and Chinese human rights advocates.

But the official newspaper of the People’s Liberation Army said it was Beijing that was vulnerable to attack, in a news report that surveyed the Pentagon’s efforts in cyber security.

Read more here: China military paper urges steps against U.S. cyber war threat – Yahoo! News.

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