Is creating a separate Service Branch on par with the Army, Navy and Air Force a bad idea for "Cyber War"?
I don't necessarily think so.
Well, let me rephrase that. I think the tactics used (at this time) are to obtain information, and as such - should be continued to be properly termed InfoWar. As such, the currently existing "armed" services shouldn't be going around shooting and blowing up bits and bytes.
I do believe that our enemies tactics are similar to our own U.S. hackers and are thus two-fold in nature: one - they issue a barrage of distraction DDoS attacks and other annoyances to tie up random (or targeted) resources away from their target to keep everyone busy, while two -they infiltrate their target(s), seek-and-find what they want, and plant their back-door's.
I don't believe that an entire branch "on par" with the Army, Navy and Air Force is necessary, but I do believe that a branch that is structured and executed much like the Coast Guard would be an intelligent decision for multiple reasons:
:: Cyber could be considered as an "ancillary" weapon during tactical military operations. For example, this branch of the military could coordinate and execute a targeted attack that would disable the enemy's missile launching systems.
:: Soldiers could be dedicated to researching classified and unclassified resources that could lead to further discovery of long-term enemy strategies.
:: Specially trained officers could become analysts and work with expert researchers to create sensitive algorithms for data mining systems that would plant the seeds for long-term, broad based InfoWar analysis looking far into the future.
:: Specifically trained soldiers could work around-the-clock on devising, building, testing and implementing deterrence techniques to put in place to defeat attacks on critical infrastructures.
:: Trained Soldiers could be "on watch", alleviating the need for conventional soldiers to "get up to speed" with computer security and forensics technology.
:: We don't know what, if anything, our enemies have created to use against us or in what capacity, so developing a few offensive and defensive techniques wouldn't be a bad idea.
:: Finally, an entirely separate division would focus their efforts, (by positioning a Cyber Guard branch of the military entirely focused on Cyber), on the coordination and facilitation of training operations between appointed industry experts from each sector of technology - congruent with both military operation standards and compliance - and industry implementation, policy and procedure guidelines.
Together the Cyber Guard unit focused on working with the Industry experts and the experts working side by side with the unit, would map out an initial course of action and set the stage for future Phases of Strategy and Implementation Guidelines.
This brand new type of alliance between a military unit and industry organizations will be crucial to an overall strategy to secure the Internet and our critical infrastructure.
This course of action would be the first of many steps towards standing up a Cyber Guard unit that coordinates with both a service branch of the armed forces and with the industry's top notch experts, where the Cyber Guard unit will be privy to immediate forthcoming information, and where the industry experts will gain trust and further insight into where the nature of the attacks are coming from and theories as to why, so they may continue their research and build and design better system security software considering military performance specifications. In my opinion, it's another case of a win-win-win all around.
I'm sure I've left plenty of things wide open for debate, for example - I think the far bigger picture of the IW that has been hitting the U.S. HARD for years now - the information being gathered - is not random but specifically chosen and state-sponsored and in a designated order, however I believe this is a high level Department of Defense issue, and that delegation may include coordination with the "Cyber Guard" unit and with a unit that is prepared to out-maneuver these tactics and perform strategic tactics of their own.
Well, let me rephrase that. I think the tactics used (at this time) are to obtain information, and as such - should be continued to be properly termed InfoWar. As such, the currently existing "armed" services shouldn't be going around shooting and blowing up bits and bytes.
I do believe that our enemies tactics are similar to our own U.S. hackers and are thus two-fold in nature: one - they issue a barrage of distraction DDoS attacks and other annoyances to tie up random (or targeted) resources away from their target to keep everyone busy, while two -they infiltrate their target(s), seek-and-find what they want, and plant their back-door's.
I don't believe that an entire branch "on par" with the Army, Navy and Air Force is necessary, but I do believe that a branch that is structured and executed much like the Coast Guard would be an intelligent decision for multiple reasons:
:: Cyber could be considered as an "ancillary" weapon during tactical military operations. For example, this branch of the military could coordinate and execute a targeted attack that would disable the enemy's missile launching systems.
:: Soldiers could be dedicated to researching classified and unclassified resources that could lead to further discovery of long-term enemy strategies.
:: Specially trained officers could become analysts and work with expert researchers to create sensitive algorithms for data mining systems that would plant the seeds for long-term, broad based InfoWar analysis looking far into the future.
:: Specifically trained soldiers could work around-the-clock on devising, building, testing and implementing deterrence techniques to put in place to defeat attacks on critical infrastructures.
:: Trained Soldiers could be "on watch", alleviating the need for conventional soldiers to "get up to speed" with computer security and forensics technology.
:: We don't know what, if anything, our enemies have created to use against us or in what capacity, so developing a few offensive and defensive techniques wouldn't be a bad idea.
:: Finally, an entirely separate division would focus their efforts, (by positioning a Cyber Guard branch of the military entirely focused on Cyber), on the coordination and facilitation of training operations between appointed industry experts from each sector of technology - congruent with both military operation standards and compliance - and industry implementation, policy and procedure guidelines.
Together the Cyber Guard unit focused on working with the Industry experts and the experts working side by side with the unit, would map out an initial course of action and set the stage for future Phases of Strategy and Implementation Guidelines.
This brand new type of alliance between a military unit and industry organizations will be crucial to an overall strategy to secure the Internet and our critical infrastructure.
This course of action would be the first of many steps towards standing up a Cyber Guard unit that coordinates with both a service branch of the armed forces and with the industry's top notch experts, where the Cyber Guard unit will be privy to immediate forthcoming information, and where the industry experts will gain trust and further insight into where the nature of the attacks are coming from and theories as to why, so they may continue their research and build and design better system security software considering military performance specifications. In my opinion, it's another case of a win-win-win all around.
I'm sure I've left plenty of things wide open for debate, for example - I think the far bigger picture of the IW that has been hitting the U.S. HARD for years now - the information being gathered - is not random but specifically chosen and state-sponsored and in a designated order, however I believe this is a high level Department of Defense issue, and that delegation may include coordination with the "Cyber Guard" unit and with a unit that is prepared to out-maneuver these tactics and perform strategic tactics of their own.
It's okay to isolate, as long as you don't do it alone.
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I’ve been visiting your blog for a while now and I always find a gem in your new posts. Thanks for sharing.
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I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.
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I feel like I am always saying "thank you", but Thank You!
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I’ve been visiting your blog for a while now and I always find a gem in your new posts. Thanks for sharing.
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You are most certainly welcome. I have fun doing this, when I have the time.
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Greetings from Moldova!
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Where to invest?
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Thank You For This Blog, was added to my bookmarks.
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From Russia with love)
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How to get rid of the dependence of FaceBook?
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I would fist ask myself "what is it that I rely on the most from Facebook?" (is there anything?) Is it the instant gratification of knowing you are in a social environment? Is it the online gaming? Be aware that the whole concept of Facebook and all of it's third party partners completely revolve around keeping you hooked in like a heroin addict. Everything they offer you leads you to investing more and more time there, and the more we invest in something, the more we hate to give it up.
Facebook really is a social addictive time-wasting drug. There is nothing beneficial to using Facebook, as users or as advertisers. Users ignore ads, and waste HOURS of times each day on the site when they could be doing something that brings them more pleasure, like completing a project they enjoy, or relaxing by the pool, or on the couch, reading a book - or talking to a friend on the phone, going to the movies, having dinner and a bottle of wine, writing a book or a blog, or actually getting some work done!
Hope that helps. Cut the relationship - delete your account!
Cheers!
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Greetings from Moldova!
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It would be possible for another
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Haha. I woke up down today. Youve chereed me up!
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