Cyber Conflict Studies

Cyber conflict refers to the conducting of large-scale, politically-driven conflict through cyberspace. State and state-sponsored transnational actors, in conjunction with other forces, leverage the use of offensive cyber-based tools, technologies, and weapons to disrupt computer systems, networks, and infrastructures, driven by potential socio-economic or political benefit.

By definition, cyberspace is transnational, thus, cyber conflict in this area raises problems related to sovereignty in the international arena. Strategically, cyberspace is viewed as a foundational domain that facilitates military superiority as well as a domain where effects (real or perceived) can be delivered to drive policy.

Cyber conflict studies will focus on key questions and issues surrounding but not limited to:

• Refining the definition of cyber conflict
• Categorizing formal cyber-based activity between countries such as intelligence collection, covert action, cyber crime, terrorism, and war
• Exploring key features of cyber conflict among a range of potential actors including state and non-state groups, and a complex hybrid of conflict involving both state and non-state actors
• Cyber warfare: Does it constitute a significant form of coercive power?
• Vulnerability of nations and their critical infrastructures, key organizations, and resources to cyber warfare
• Possible use of cyber warfare for deterrent purposes
• Factors that will govern the capacity of a state or organization to deter cyber attack
• Characteristics of cyber warfare capabilities constituting the most effective deterrent against different types of adversaries
• What thresholds for response to cyber attack might be established?
• The means by which states and organizations might establish the most effective defences
• Exploring how the effectiveness of cyber defence will interact with the effectiveness of other coercive means, particularly economic or military
• The influence of cyber warfare on regional, national, and security dynamics

These study topics will deliver a perspective on the context and issues related to cyber conflict.