IW-D


SECTION 4

WHAT SHOULD WE DEFEND?

Determination of what to defend should follow from our nation's vital interests as documented in the current national security strategy. On the basis of these interests, the Task Force postulated the goals shown in Exhibit 4- 1. Given the available time, it was not possible for the Task Force to address each of these goals in detail. However, the Task Force did develop a set of national-level defensive information warfare interests based on these goals.


Vital interests (A National Security Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement,
The White House, February 1996)
-Enhance our security with military forces that are ready to fight and with
effective representation abroad

-Bolster America's economic revitalization

-Promote democracy abroad

Goals

-Stable monetary, financial and banking systems which enjoy public
confidence

-Free trade

-Continuity of government and constitutional authority

-Personal privacy

-Ability to deploy, employ and support military forces

-Protected intellectual property

-Venue for resolution of policy issues among government, individuals
and the private sector

-Availability of emergency services for any emergency, natural or
man-made

-National standards for "reasonable" protection regimes for public
and private networks

-Stimulate research, development and application of technologies
for IW-D

Exhibit 4-1. National Goals For Information Warfare (Defense)

Exhibit 4-2 indicates the national interests that must be defended. The emphasis is on defending critical functions and processes, not on defending forces, platforms, or geography. As was the case in developing an ensured means of control for the strategic nuclear deterrent, some critical information infrastructure capabilities must be isolated from the interconnected national and global information infrastructure to ensure it is available to support and manage the restoration of critical functions.

The strategic nuclear deterrent

Continuity of government

Information warfare indications and warning

Minimum essential information infrastructure to manage and carry out
restoration of critical functions

- Emergency response

- C3

Minimum information and systems required to deploy quick reaction
conventional forces

Other critical DoD and national (civil) functions and infrastructures
based on importance and resources available

   - Critical DoD functions

  • Operations
  • Deployment
  • Sustainment
  • Mobilization

   - Other critical national functions

  • Banking
  • Commerce
  • Government services
  • Etc.

   - Portions of infrastructures supporting the critical functions

  • Financial networks
  • Electric power
  • Emergency services
  • Gas and oil storage and distribution
  • Government operations
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation
  • Water supply

Exhibit 4-2. The National Interests

The Department must preserve its ability to fulfill its basic missions. To do that, DoD must be concerned about the ensured operation the critical functions and availability of information necessary to fulfill those missions. The intertwined nature of the functions and infrastructures make this very complex. Critical national functions that have possible national security implications must be defended, and those portions of the infrastructures that are necessary for the operation of critical DoD and national functions must also be defended.


[End Section 4.0]

[Go to Section 5.0]