Tactics of Attack and Defense in Physical and Digital Environments: An Asymmetric Warfare Approach
Abstract
Asymmetric warfare is frequently described as a conflict between two parties where the ‘weaker’ party aims to offset its comparatively fewer resources by making use of particular tactical advantages. This paper develops a concept model that captures the leverage available to the ‘weaker’ party over the ‘stronger’ party simply because the former is attacking rather than defending. Points of leverage include choice of timing, location, method of attack, best use of limited resources and time to prepare. The leverage model is then used to discuss tacticsfrom the perspective of the defending party. In particular, a defense-in-depth approach negates much of the natural leverage available to attackers by forcing them to engage targets under conditions that maximize the defenders own advantages.
AUTHORS
Department of Computing and Information Systems,University of Melbourne,
Australia
Atif Ahmad is an information security researcher and independent security consultant based at the Department of Information Systems, University of Melbourne. His research interests are in asymmetric warfare and information security risk assessments especially where knowledge artefacts are concerned. In previous years Atif has worked as a consultant for Pinkerton and WorleyParsons where he applied his expertise to Internet corporations and critical infrastructure installations. Atif is a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP) with the American Society for Industrial Security and holds an adjunct position at the Security Research Institute at Edith Cowan University.
Published In
Journal of Information Warfare
The definitive publication for the best and latest research and analysis on information warfare, information operations, and cyber crime. Available in traditional hard copy or online.
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