Archived Daytime Events (Global Eyes)

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee meeting in June 2017 resulted in partisan struggles to pass important legislation concerning cyber security. Meanwhile, the House and Senate were able to pass bipartisan legislation that helped to establish cyber security as an important national security issue.

This article delves into Jeff Moss', founder of The Black Hat, opinions on cyber security policy. Moss feels that cyber security policy must be concrete to be effective, but establishing effective policies will be difficult. Moss also feels it is critical for software companies to be held liable for the private data they hold.

Since creation of the first interconnected computer network in 1969 as an Advanced Research Projects Agency endeavor, cyberspace has expanded to affect many, if not most, aspects of Americans' lives. Unfortunately, accessibility to and expansion of the Internet often proceeded without proper consideration for the security of the information contained or transmitted therein. The lack of necessary security and the anonymity afforded by the Internet led to equally rapid growth (if not more so) of the nefarious exploitation of this man-made domain. Regrettably, it is unlikely that "the United States can protect itself from the growing threat of cybercrime and state-sponsored intrusions and operations." However, this prospect should not limit attempts by the US to defend its cyberspace infrastructure, "whether the threat comes from terrorists, cybercriminals, or states and their proxies." Consequently, America must develop offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. Additionally, clearly defined policies require development and implementation to ensure cohesion across the whole of government.

Over the past decade, and perhaps never more so than during the current Administration, information and communication technologies have presented seemingly endless threats and opportunities for the US. The next Administration will have to pull all of its levers of power in cyberspace-international engagement and diplomacy, military doctrine and action, economic policy tools, advanced cybersecurity technology, and law enforcement and intelligence gathering-to ensure the security and prosperity of the US. There is perhaps a surprisingly broad range where cyber issues overlap with US foreign policy, with seven main families of issues. The single most important item on the agenda of the incoming President should be to decide the larger American interest in cyberspace. Of course, the President will not have to make an all-or-nothing decision. Even with an overall policy to prioritize cyber defense, innovation, and the economy (all relatively "soft power" approaches), there must be exceptions.

The European Union (EU) has greatly increased its role in the management of international cyber security policies. This article examines the breadth of the EU's role in cyber security and the effectiveness of its policy strategies.

DiCenso discusses issues surrounding information warfare, including whether some levels of intrusion are acceptable, when a computer intrusion goes too far, how the victim should respond to the attack and when an information operation becomes an act of war. The lack of guidelines and policy discussions regarding these coupled with the US' increasing dependency on computer systems makes it vulnerable to information warfare; it is suggested that these issues be resolved on an international political level.

U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission is currently planning potential strategies that will limit China's control over international cyber security policies. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission feels that China's repressive internet policies are at odds with U.S. desires to work towards an open internet.

A guide from the NATO Library on NATO's cyber history, NATO events related to cyber defense, and recommended reading.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain is pushing for the military to have increased responsibility over cyber attacks against the United States. Assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security Kenneth Rapuano feels that this responsibility should lie in the hands of civilian agencies. Rapuano believes that this addition to the Pentagon's responsibilities would result in lessened focus on what he believes to be the Pentagon's core mission, defending the U.S. and avoiding war.

Both the US Navy and the US Air Force were originally founded to project US interests into non-governed common spaces, and both have established organizations to deal with cyber security. There's no reason to suppose that one service is inherently better suited than the other to deal with cyber security, yet there are critical differences in their approaches which suggest they will bring their own strengths and weaknesses to the table, irrespective of any organizational framework designed to unify the country's approach to the problem. Here, Vacca investigates how the Mahanian traditions of the Navy and the legacy of Guilio Douhet for the US Air Force led them to frame the cyber challenge. He also discusses the deterrent and commercial aspects of cyber security and moral effects of force.