Pacific Command Cyber Attack

This is the greater context facing the U.S. Army’s 516th Signal Brigade based in Hawaii. The 516th Signal Brigade consists of 2,500 soldiers and federal employees responsible for the installation, operation, and defense of tactical and strategic information technology (IT) networks for the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater (from Japan to Alaska). Every day the 516th Signal Brigade must defend against cyber-attacks, provide IT service support to many thousands of users, and remain prepared to deploy quickly its mobile communications teams in the event of conflict or a natural disaster. However, during my tenure within the brigade from 2013-2015, I discovered

As a nation, today’s society must invest in cyber security to execute military power, protect citizens information, and safeguard businesses.

On 22 January 2013, General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff released a white paper describing his vision for the Joint Information Environment (JIE) and how it would support operations in the years to come.1 This mandated transition is driving a reassessment of the most appropriate command and control (C2) structure to conduct operations within the domain. Attempts to achieve a standardized fully interoperable environment will only achieve limited success due to the innate variability and changing nature of technology, exacerbated by service unique capabilities and requirements as well as inconsistent funding. Existing C2 models either fail to address the uniqueness of operations in the cyber domain or otherwise fail to

On October 31, 2010, The United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) achieved Full Operational Capability becoming a sub-unified command under the United States Strategic Command. As a newly formed armed forces command, USCYBERCOM was given the mission for centralizing cyberspace operations, organizing existing cyber resources and synchronizing the defense of military networks. In order to achieve this mission, prior Secretary of Defense, Robert M. Gates, directed the USCYBERCOM to focus on developing cyber capability and capacity via the DoD’s Cyber Strategy. The purpose of this strategy is to guide the development of DoD's cyber forces and strengthen the United States cyber defense and cyber deterrence posture while building cyber capabilities

My project will be a case study on how effective the USCYBERCOM has been in supporting the DoD Cyber Strategy, specifically exploring how the organization has developed and adjusted to the cyber battlefield. Additionally, I will explore what U.S can expect from the USCYBERCOM now that the organization has just recently been elevated combatant command, which comes with the responsibilities of managing its forces, being prepared to conduct operations during crises, and for training and equipping cyber forces.

For years, it was widely believed that the next World War would be centered on the use of nuclear weaponry. However, the development of viruses has furthered cyberwarfare, and in recent years the attention has shifted from a nuclear threat to a cyber one. Having the ability to completely, dismantle another country’s entire infrastructure without leaving your desk is clearly much simpler than using nuclear weapons. “The treat of a cyberattack is a clear and present danger to America and is more likely than a nuclear attack.” (The Hill) Even higher ranking defense officials are realizing that the focus must shift to cyberwar, instead of the traditional nuclear missiles. Additionally, the cost for cyberwarfare is significantly less than the cost of nuclear

BACKGROUND. Implementing new procedures and countermeasures will ensure positive results during real time Mission Emergency Functions (MEF). Implementing new standards will be in an addition to annual sustainment training. Activation of COOP currently takes place in the initial phase between 0 to 12 hours. Normal protocols during this movement are coordination, establishment of command, personnel accountability, and initiation of procedures. A Mission Essential Function (MEF) task that an agency can defer is no longer 48 hours from “N” time. Current changing threats, including acts of nature, accidents, technological emergencies, and terrorist attack-related incidents have increased the need for viable Continuity of Operations capabilities

According to Palmer (2010) The U.S. Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review emphasized the expanding hazard posed by cyber-warfare/terrorism on communication systems and space-based investigation. "On any given day, there are as many as 8 million Department of Defense telecommunications tools and computers in use in 78 countries using thousands of support and war-fighting applications. The number of possible susceptibilities, therefore, is staggering," the Review

Due to today’s ongoing conflicts and the rapid change of technology, Cyber has been one of the most challenging programs for Northrop. Furthermore, the full-spectrum cyber solutions delivered by the company are crucial to our national security. Northrop is benefiting from being one of the major

Cyber-attacks are one of the most significant threats the U.S. faces today. The vulnerabilities that come with the world’s dependence on technology are a tremendous hazard to the United States. This threat is substantial enough for President Trump to designate USCYBER Command as a combatant command.19 This essay addresses how the use of cyber-attacks, as a military force, can destroy strategic targets and how Hart and Sun Tzu would view cyber-attacks. A state sponsored cyber-attack designed and executed with the intent of causing willful destruction to another nation is an act of war.

According to the director of National Intelligence James Clapper, “The cyber warfare threat facing the United States is increasing in scope and scale and its impact is difficult to overstate” (Jason and Steve 6). Now the United State of America is also under the threat of Cyberwarfare; people must get known about their rights and ways to protect them self, also the big origination holding the public records should be alerted and the precaution should must taken right away for the safe side. Looking towards the issues of cyberwarfare in United States of America, four aspects should be taken in consideration that is what is cyberwarfare, how it works, offensive of it and defensive of it.

There is a new threat to the world, cyberspace. New technologies are being developed daily that threaten secure organizations. Attackers are able to take advantage of any vulnerability that they can find no matter the geological location. This threat poses risks to the economy, militaries, and governments around the world. The U.S. is at the forefront of the defense of cyber security, but with the endless number of cyber terrorists, the U.S. defense is not enough. Nations need to come together to provide a standard for cyber security that is able to be enforced throughout the world. The many different organizations provide many avenues of approach for various attackers to take advantage of the vulnerabilities in cyber defense. The only way to prevent these attacks is for the U.S. and its international partners to develop a strategy for global cyber security. Actions are currently being taken by many of the U.S. 's allies, yet there is still much work to be done. The enforcement of cyber security standards must take place in all government organizations, and similar standards should be followed by civilian corporations. This new cyber-warfare must be regulated and controlled just like any other battlespace.

Somewhat echoing president Obama’s concerns. (Cyberwar: The Challenge to National Security Nathalie Caplan 2013, Volume 4)

While China, in particular organs of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has historically and will likely continue conducting cyber espionage and network exploitation for information gathering and related purposes, for reasons nested in the individual, state, and international levels, and assuming the classic rational-actor paradigm of decision making, it is increasingly likely that offensive cyber operations (OCO) will be preferred elements of China’s military strategy in the coming years. For reasons including an increasing American ability to detect, counter, and reciprocate OCO as well as cost efficiency and regional factors and regional power dynamics, China will increasingly choose to target U.S. allies vice U.S. interests directly. This will consequently create a requirement

Cybercrime has become one of the most threatening issues not only for the security of the United States (U.S.) but for the security of the entire world. The Recent massive attack which targeted around 300,000 machines in 150 countries proved that the world is not prepared to confront such threat. This type of asymmetric threat demands a more comprehensive approach since it cannot be addressed with the conventional assets the U.S. possesses to counter its traditional aggressors. Cybercrime requires the use of innovative and integrated solutions that the individual effort of U.S. federal agencies by themselves are incapable of providing if working independently. Hence the necessity of crafting integral strategies which involve the expertise