The Decision to Attack: Military and Intelligence Cyber Decision-Making (Studies in Security and International Affairs Ser.)

The debate over cyber technology has resulted in new considerations for national security operations. States find themselves in an increasingly interconnected world with a diverse threat spectrum and little understanding of how decisions are made within this amorphous domain. With The Decision to Attack, Aaron Franklin Brantly investigates how states decide to employ cyber in military and intelligence operations against other states and how rational those decisions are. In his examination, Brantly contextualizes broader cyber decision-making processes into a systematic expected utility–rational choice approach to provide a mathematical understanding of the use of cyber weapons at the state level. Discussed: The Key Concepts of Cyber The Motivation and Utility for Covert Action Digital Power Anonymity and Attribution in Cyberspace Cyber and Conventional Operations: The Dynamics of Conflict Defining the Role of Intelligence in Cyberspace How Actors Decide to Use Cyber—a Rational Choice Approach Cognitive Processes and Decision-Making in Cyberspace Finding Meaning in the Expected Utility of International Cyber Conflict The debate over cyber technology has resulted in new considerations for national security operations. States find themselves in an increasingly interconnected world with a diverse threat spectrum and little understanding of how decisions are made within this amorphous domain. With The Decision to Attack , Aaron Franklin Brantly investigates how states decide to employ cyber in military and intelligence operations against other states and how rational those decisions are. In his examination, Brantly contextualizes broader cyber decision-making processes into a systematic expected utility-rational choice approach to provide a mathematical understanding of the use of cyber weapons at the state level. Discussed: The Key Concepts of Cyber The Motivation and Utility for Covert Action Digital Power Anonymity and Attribution in Cyberspace Cyber and Conventional Operations: The Dynamics of Conflict Defining the Role of Intelligence in Cyberspace How Actors Decide to Use Cyber--a Rational Choice Approach Cognitive Processes and Decision-Making in Cyberspace Finding Meaning in the Expected Utility of International Cyber Conflict The debate over the importance of cyber has resulted in the consideration of a new domain of operation vital to national security. States find themselves in an increasingly interconnected world with a diverse threat spectrum and little understanding of how decisions are made within this amorphous domain. Much of the literature on cyber has focused on defining what cyber is. This dissertation examines how states decide to employ cyber in military and intelligence operations against other states. The research question this work seeks to answer is: do states rationally decide to employ cyber in military and intelligence operations against other states? This work contextualizes broader cyber decision-making processes into a systematic expected utility - rational choice approach to provide a mathematical understanding behind the use of cyber weapons at the state level Introduction To Cyber Decision-making -- The Key Concepts Of Cyber -- The Motivation And Utility For Covert Action -- Digital Power -- Anonymity And Attribution In Cyberspace -- Cyber And Conventional Operations: The Dynamics Of Conflict -- Defining The Role Of Intelligence In Cyberspace -- How Actors Decide To Use Cyber -- A Rational Choice Approach -- Cognitive Processes And Decision-making In Cyberspace -- Finding Meaning In The Expected Utility Of International Cyber Conflict -- Appendix A. Power Score Components And Scores -- Appendix B. Modified Economist Intelligence Unit Component Values -- Appendix C. Affinity Scores. Aaron Franklin Brantly. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Investigates how states decide to employ cyber in military and intelligence operations against other states and how rational those decisions are. Aaron Franklin Brantly contextualizes cyber decision-making processes into a systematic expected utility-rational choice approach to provide a mathematical understanding of the use of cyber weapons.