What Are The Main Tenets Of U.S. Cyber Policy For Civilians

What Are The Main Tenants Of Us Cyber Policy From A Civilian And Mil

What are the main tenants of U.S. cyber policy from a civilian and military sector perspective? What are the strengths and weaknesses? This is your opportunity to take a critical look at current US cyber policy and assess it for its positive aspects as well as the negative. To do this you must first wade through the political language and identify the key principles of the different policy documents. How does US policy stand up in light of everything we have learned so far?

Paper For Above instruction

The cybersecurity landscape in the United States is shaped by complex and multifaceted policies that address both the civilian and military sectors. These policies are developed to enhance national security, protect critical infrastructure, and foster resilient digital ecosystems. Analyzing the core tenets of US cyber policy reveals both strengths that bolster national resilience and weaknesses that pose challenges to effective cybersecurity management.

From a civilian perspective, US cybersecurity policy emphasizes the protection of critical infrastructure through collaborative frameworks between government agencies and private sector entities. The White House’s 2015 Cybersecurity Strategy and Implementation Plan (CSLIP) underscore the importance of risk management, information sharing, and establishing cybersecurity standards across federal agencies and private companies. A key principle here is fostering public-private partnerships to create a unified approach to cybersecurity, recognizing that private entities own and operate most of the nation’s critical infrastructure (Whitehouse, 2015). This collaborative effort is strengthened by efforts to improve threat intelligence sharing, which aims to close information gaps between government and industry. However, these partnerships face weaknesses due to issues of trust, privacy concerns, and inconsistent compliance across private sectors, which can undermine effective coordination.

In the military domain, US cyber policy is primarily guided by the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Strategy, emphasizing offensive and defensive cyber operations. The strategy prioritizes building cyber deterrence, developing military cyber capabilities, and integrating cyber forces into broader national security planning (DoD, 2020). A central tenet is the concept of cyber deterrence, akin to nuclear deterrence, where threats of retaliatory action serve to dissuade adversaries from cyberattacks. The military’s focus on offensive capabilities also reflects an emphasis on pre-emptive strategies to disrupt potential threats before they materialize. A notable strength of this approach is the development of specialized cyber units and advanced offensive tools, which enhance the military’s operational readiness. Conversely, weaknesses include difficulties in attribution, which complicates retaliation, the risk of escalation in cyber conflicts, and challenges in establishing international norms for responsible state behavior in cyberspace.

Critically assessing US cyber policy reveals that while there are well-defined principles aiming to safeguard critical infrastructure and deter malicious actors, challenges persist. The policies often suffer from ambiguity in implementation and enforcement, partly due to the rapidly evolving nature of cyber threats and technological advancements. Furthermore, the separation of civilian and military strategies sometimes leads to gaps in coordination, which could be exploited by adversaries. The policy documents emphasize resilience, deterrence, and partnership, but the effectiveness of these principles varies depending on geopolitical circumstances, resource allocation, and technical capabilities.

In conclusion, US cyber policy is built on foundational principles of protection, deterrence, and collaboration. Its strengths lie in strategic deterrence, technological innovation, and partnerships, yet weaknesses emerge from attribution difficulties, policy coherence, and evolving threat landscapes. To remain effective, US cyber policy must adapt to emerging threats through clearer coordination, international norms, and continued technological advancement, ensuring it can serve the country’s security interests comprehensively.

References

1. Department of Defense. (2020). The DoD Cyber Strategy. https://media.defense.gov/2020/Mar/10/2002269339/-1/-1/0/DoD-CYBER-STRATEGY-2020.PDF
2. Whitehouse. (2015). Cybersecurity Strategy and Implementation Plan (CSLIP) for the Federal Civilian Government. https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Cybersecurity-Strategy-and-Implementation-Plan.pdf
3. Whitehouse. (2015). National Security Strategy. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NSS-Final-12-2-2015.pdf
4. Kramer, Franklin D. et al. (Eds). (2019). From Cyberspace to Cyberpower: Cyber Power and National Security. Chapter 23 “Cyberpower and Critical Infrastructure Protection”; Chapter 24 “Cyberpower from the Presidential Perspective.”
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10. Perlroth, N. (2021). This Is How the Chinese Hackers Broke Into Yahoo. The New York Times.