Shaping the Air Force Operational Environment in Cyberspace

<p>The AF has dedicated considerable resources trying to manage and secure information and information systems in cyberspace. Air Force personnel have tried to create a number of secure and unsecure operational environments in the cyberspace domain all based on the technology developed in the 50s and 60s for an open highly fragmentable architectural environment. One major problem with this approach is that the AF frequently fields systems and applications that are susceptible to attack in that open environment and by the time they are implemented are often outdated. Instead of this approach the AF could redefine what is meant by an AF Operational Environment and then develop the doctrine strategies applications and infrastructure necessary to create and dominate this new environment. To begin this process one first needs to review a definition of cyberspace. The Joint Chiefs of Staff defines cyberspace as a domain characterized by the use of electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to store modify and exchange data via networked systems and associated physical structures. This definition makes no mention of the internet intranet SIPRNet or NIPRNet many of the terms most often associated with cyberspace. What it does mention is the transfer of data 1's and 0's across the electromagnetic spectrum. The distinction can now be made between the environment and how the environment is used and manipulated by technology and people. With seemingly unlimited technologies and methodologies available to manipulate the environment to meet operational requirements the AF is limited only by the skills and imagination of its personnel and its willingness to focus resources in this area.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>