Warfare in Cyberspace

A new military command for cyberspace was described in the lead story in today’s New York Times. It comes not a moment to soon. This country has lagged in its response to cyber attacks and security, and the prospect of an attempt to shut down computer systems controlling everything from energy to water to communications satellites is chilling.

The new cyber effort, originally designed primarily for defensive purposes, will have a multi-billion dollar budget and a cyber czar with an office in the White House. It remains to be determined whether the cyber division will fall under the umbrella of the National Security Council or the Defense Department.

The very real prospect of an enemy power attempting to influence our computer networks during hostilities, and the impact of a successful attempt to do so, clearly led to today’s action. The Internet is a wonderful thing, but as we come to rely on it more and more, it means increased vulnerability as well. They may be used to living in caves in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but in advanced civilizations, this is not an option.

Government inevitably lags a few steps behind the rest of society, so this new cyber office provides a chance for it to catch up.