Military Cyber Operations and the Army: Persistent, Covert, Protective Strategies
In the latest episode of the Social Science of War podcast, hosts Kyle Atwell and his team delve into the complex and evolving nature of cybersecurity risks that pose significant challenges to the United States. The discussion centres around state and non-state actors conducting sophisticated cyber operations that jeopardise national security, critical infrastructure, and military advantages.
The Army's adaptation to the cyber domain is a key focus of the episode. This adaptation involves developing enhanced cyber capabilities, integrating cyber operations into traditional military planning, and emphasising cyber defense and offense as central components of modern warfare. This is not just about technological upgrades but also organisational, doctrinal, and workforce changes to effectively operate and defend in the cyber domain.
One of the primary concerns highlighted in the podcast is the disruption of command and control, intelligence, and battlefield communications by cyber threats, which in turn impacts operational effectiveness. To counter these threats, the Army is investing in cyber units, training soldiers in cyber warfare skills, and collaborating with other branches and the Department of Defense to create a resilient cyber posture.
However, the Army faces challenges such as rapid technological change, the difficulty of attribution in cyberspace, and the need to maintain persistent cyber vigilance and defense against advanced persistent threats (APTs). Dr. Margaret Smith, the founder of the Competition in Cyberspace Project at West Point and an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, and Colonel Candice E. Frost, the commander of the Joint Intelligence Operations Center at US Cyber Command, are among the experts contributing to this discussion.
Colonel Frost, who has deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Bosnia, and Dr. Smith, who holds a PhD from George Washington University and has published extensively on the intersection of the cyber domain and national security, provide valuable insights into the current and future landscape of cyber threats. Their works, such as "Who Attacked Montenegro? The Moral and Strategic Hazards of Misassigning Blame," "Russia has been at war with Ukraine for years-in cyberspace," and "Pride of Place: Reconceptualizing Disinformation as the United States' Greatest National Security Challenge," offer further perspectives on the topic.
The Social Science of War podcast, produced by the Department of Social Sciences at West Point, aims to explore these complex issues and provide a platform for experts like Dr. Smith and Colonel Frost to share their knowledge and experiences. As cyberattacks are ongoing and require a persistent presence, understanding and addressing these challenges is crucial for the United States' national security.
Image Credit: Bill Roche, US Army Cyber Command
[1] Competition in Cyberspace Project, West Point [2] Army Cyber Institute, West Point [3] Cybersecurity Think Tank Reports [4] Defense Analysis Podcasts
- The ongoing challenge of cybersecurity risks to national security, critical infrastructure, and military advantages is a significant concern, as demonstrated in the latest episode of the Social Science of War podcast.
- The Army's focus on adapting to the cyber domain includes developing enhanced cyber capabilities, integrating cyber operations into traditional military planning, and emphasizing cyber defense and offense as essential components of modern warfare.
- To counter cyber threats such as disruption of command and control, intelligence, and battlefield communications, the Army is investing in cyber units, training soldiers in cyber warfare skills, and collaborating with other branches and the Department of Defense.
- Understanding and addressing the challenges of rapid technological change, attribution in cyberspace, and persistent cyber vigilance against advanced persistent threats is crucial for the United States' national security, as experts like Dr. Margaret Smith and Colonel Candice E. Frost outline on the Social Science of War podcast.
