DOD Cyberspace Strategy Envisions Tribal Issues
In July 2011, the Department of Defense (DOD) announced a broad strategy for operating within cyberspace. The DOD cyberspace strategy now recognizes that cyberspace is another platform that will play host to warfare and that the warrior in this battlefield may not have to utilize an expensive, gigantic system to deliver a devastating blow to critical infrastructure. While the high level of devastation to critical infrastructure may increase in today’s attack, the small-scale technologies behind these attacks may have an impact which is disproportionate to their size. In its strategy, the DOD has acknowledged that DOD and Defense Industrial Base networks suffered cyber attacks and that information and systems were compromised as a result. The DOD also acknowledged that there may be malicious code or activities on DOD systems which have not yet been detected and thus, pose a national security risk to sensitive and classified networks in both the government and private sectors.
The strategy announced by the DOD is squarely focused upon five strategic initiatives that may provide opportunities to tribal businesses, tribal entrepreneurs and tribal members interested in a career in cyber security. In particular, Strategic Initiative 3 calls for the DOD to partner with other agencies and tribal governments to ensure a whole-of-government approach to cyber security. Under Strategic Initiative 5, the DOD recognizes and embraces that it will have to develop small businesses, entrepreneurs and people to pursue new technology and innovations in cyber security and defense. With the large number of attacks to DOD systems, the DOD remains focused upon building and leveraging the technological prowess of the public and private sectors through investments in people, research and technology. The Section 8a program may be an avenue for tribal businesses and entrepreneurs to explore this emerging national security industry sector. The tribal governmental and educational sectors may be able to direct the investment of DOD resources to the development of tribal people who will be the next generation of cyber warriors protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure from a catastrophic attack.
