Information Operations - Demands of Increased Cooperation Within the Cabinet and Between the State and the Private Sector

摘要

This paper presents a comparison of Swedish and U.S. perspectives on actions to reduce vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure when that infrastructure is attacked via Information Operations. It compares the U.S. and the Swedish definitions of Information Operations and offers an example of how Information Operations can be implemented. The paper stresses the need for increased cooperation among governments and increased awareness of a government's needs within the economic environment. With technological advancements occurring mostly in the private sector, no single actor is the owner of a critical information system. Yet information technology and globalization lead to the international arena and demand international cooperation. This paper suggests ways in which different actors (e.g., the Government, information system producers, suppliers of data and telecommunications equipment, financial institutions, insurance companies) can attain cooperation throughout a nation's critical systems. An area of special interest, because of their authority and collaboration in an asymmetric environment, is the role of police and military in protective Information Operations. The paper looks at the issues of global security, technological development, and economics as they affect Information Operations. The author stresses the need for developed forms of public-private cooperation and describes a way to organize traditional domestic responsibilities to keep pace with emerging information technology-related threats. The author also recommends new ways of handling crises and conflicts and enforcing sanctions in the international arena. Recommendations are provided for cross-sector security cooperation within the cabinet and between the State and private sector. (20 refs.).