Episode 28 - Executing in the Digital Domain: Cyberspace Operations in Action

n this episode, we explore Chapter 4 of the Strategic Cyberspace Operations Guide, which focuses on the critical phase of executing military operations in cyberspace. Cyberspace is a dynamic and contested domain, requiring precise planning, coordination, and adaptation as operations unfold.

Key topics include:

• The role of the Execute Order (EXORD) in initiating cyberspace operations and how planning continues during execution to adjust and react to new challenges in real-time.

• Unique considerations for cyberspace operations compared to traditional domains, such as understanding the physical, logical, and cyber-persona layers of targets and the unpredictability of higher-order effects.

• How command and control (C2) structures are adapted to synchronize cyberspace operations at both the global and theater levels, ensuring unity of effort among USCYBERCOM, combatant commands, and other stakeholders.

• The complexities of cyberspace targeting, where operations must consider multiple layers of a target, and the importance of intelligence in gaining access to critical adversary networks.

• The legal and policy frameworks that govern cyberspace operations, and the specific rules of engagement (ROE) that determine the scope of actions in different parts of cyberspace.

• The critical role of synchronization and deconfliction to ensure that multiple cyberspace actions do not conflict with one another, especially when integrated with electronic warfare and other military operations.

• Challenges in assessing the impact of cyberspace operations, given that effects are not always immediately visible, requiring complex intelligence and battle damage assessments (BDA).

Join us as we unpack the intricacies of executing successful cyberspace operations and how the military navigates the digital domain in defense of national security.