Truman National Security Project

Making sense of cyber warfare requires understanding the cyber domain. The inherent characteristics of the cyber domain make it challenging to determine the implications of cyber warfare on national security policy. Accurately defining the cyber environment is essential. Understanding how the environment functions and behaves as well as understanding the implications of concepts, like convergence (the integration of multiple technologies into a smaller number of platforms and the increasing blending of the virtual and physical worlds), help frame the big picture.

The cyber environment shapes the “warfare” part of cyber warfare. Unfortunately, discussions about cyber warfare have been polarized by commentators, some who believe that a “cyber Pearl Harbor” is inevitable and others who believe just the opposite. Reality lies somewhere in the middle. It is important to remember that warfare is an extension of politics and that this axiom applies in the cyber domain. Operational planning must take into account a spectrum of threats. Understanding the implications of complexity and the intentions of actors in the system will be key to developing effective cyber warfare strategies.

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The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Truman National Security Project or Educational Institute.