Playbooks for the Collective Defense of Nations, Cities, and Critical Infrastructure Sectors in Cyberspace

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Presented at SecureIowaConference 2019 by

Greg Conti

The veneer of modern civilization is thin and brittle. Given sufficient will, it is disturbingly easy to systematically dismantle the functions of government and the cohesion which binds society together. Armies are maneuvering in cyberspace right now. State cyberspace, electronic warfare, and information operations forces wield massive power that, when combined, can overwhelm fragile infrastructure and disjoint defenses. We see ongoing targeting and increasingly intense probing of critical infrastructure on a global scale. The trend is toward operations of increasing scope and impact, from passive surveillance to disruption to destruction. We must acknowledge that the groundwork has already been laid for even more aggressive attacks, and that today’s operations serve to prove and hone those capabilities. Enterprises and organizations attempting to stand as individuals against such threats will be defeated as individuals. Governments can help, but often stumble due to political indecisiveness, ponderous