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Toward an Ambidextrous Framework for Offensive Cyberspace Operations: A Theory, Policy and Practice Perspective
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7552-9465
NATO Defense College, George Washington School of Business, Central European University.
2020 (English)In: Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security, ICCWS 2020, 2020, Vol. 2020-MarchConference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

 This article addresses the rise in state-sponsored cyber attacks over the past three decades and proposes a new ambidextrous framework for offensive cyberspace operations. Since 1982, nation states have embarked in a fierce race to develop both clandestine and covert offensive cyber capabilities. Their intended targets range from foreign militaries and terrorist organizations to civilian populations and the critical infrastructures that they rely upon. Advancements in cyber security have, however, contributed to the discovery and attribution of offensive cyber operations, such as state-sponsored ransomware attacks, where state-built cyber capabilities have been used to attack governments, industries, academia and citizens of adversary nations. The financial and psychological costs of these ransomware attacks are today a threat to any state’s national security. This article draws from academic research, the cyber military doctrines of four countries—a total of eight models from the Netherlands, Sweden, the U.S., and the U.K.—and the authors’ operational experience to propose a new ambidextrous framework for offensive cyberspace operations. This ambidextrous framework for offensive cyberspace operations and the associated Cyberspace Operations Canvas are needed today in order to increase the resilience of national critical infrastructures against attacks from state-developed tools. We use the WannaCry-case to illustrate how the implementation of the ambidextrous framework for offensive cyberspace operations would result in increased awareness and understanding of the prospective cyber threats, their intended target(s), the likelihood of cascading effects and the options available by nation states to minimize them.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 2020-March
Keywords [en]
Ambidextrous Framework for Offensive Cyberspace Operations, critical infrastructure protection, Cyberspace Operations Canvas, cyber resilience, state-sponsored cyber-attacks, WannaCry
National Category
Information Systems Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies) Peace and Conflict Studies Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-231093OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-231093DiVA, id: diva2:1871250
Conference
15th International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ICCWS)
Available from: 2024-06-17 Created: 2024-06-17 Last updated: 2025-02-20
In thesis
1. Offensive Cyberspace Operations: Implications for Sweden
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Offensive Cyberspace Operations: Implications for Sweden
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This PhD thesis describes how Sweden can organise its offensive cyberspace capabilities for strategic objectives, including cyber deterrence and defence, in response to escalating threats from nations like Russia, China, and Iran. The research develops a multi-level and multi-domain (MLMD) theoretical framework, integrating deterrence theory, intelligence the- ory, and offensive cyberspace operations. Adopting an interpretivist research philosophy, the research employs a case study research strategy, reviewing scientific and military literature and conducting semi-structured interviews with key respondents in Swedish policy and defence. The findings suggest the need for a comprehensive national deterrence strategy encompassing offensive cyberspace capabilities, the operational organisation of cyberspace units supported by policy and intelligence, and a tactical emphasis on identifying and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities. This research contributes to the field by offering models and frameworks for planning and executing offensive cyberspace operations, providing insights and increasing the knowledge base for professionals and researchers. Additionally, it advances the field by applying the MLMD framework for evaluating the research papers and using the general method for theory building in applied disciplines to assess the utility of the proposed model for offensive cyberspace operations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, 2024. p. 147
Series
Report Series / Department of Computer & Systems Sciences, ISSN 1101-8526 ; 24-008
Keywords
Offensive Cyberspace Operations, Deterrence Theory, Intelligence Theory, Offensive Cyberspace Operations Theory, Sweden, Multi-Level and Multi-Domain Framework
National Category
Information Systems Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies) Peace and Conflict Studies Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-231078 (URN)978-91-8014-839-9 (ISBN)978-91-8014-840-5 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-09-06, L70, auditorium 70, NOD-huset, Borgarfjordsgatan 12, Kista, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2024-08-14 Created: 2024-06-17 Last updated: 2025-02-20Bibliographically approved

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Toward an Ambidextrous Framework for Offensive Cyberspace Operations: a Theory, Policy and Practice Perspective

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Huskaj, Gazmend

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