Fact or Fiction: Internet Surveillance and Reconnaissance Cell

Abstract

Abstract : In today's society, cyberspace is at the heart of daily living and is both a gift and a burden. The United States is taking measures to ensure that cyberspace continues to be a gift to the population. However, those measures can be a burden on those implementing them if the underlying command and control is immature or complex. The Department of Defense (DOD) has taken a proactive approach to viewing cyberspace as a battlefield and engaging in its defense. The U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has DOD command and control over cyberspace and has delegated much of that to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Joint Task Force - Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) for every day global network operations. The Geographic Combatant Commander (CCDR) is responsible for computer network operations within the Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) area of responsibility. The CCDR uses a Theater Network Operations Control Center (TNCC) to oversee network operations in the theater. JTF-GNO has forward deployed assets in GCC known as a Theater Network Operations Center (TNC) which provide the CCDR with the Global Information Grid (GIG) situational awareness within the theater relative to the global view. USEUCOM has taken its defense of its cyberspace assets one step further by creating a Cyber-Threat Intelligence Cell to characterize current threats with the intent to proactively prevent cyber attacks. The CCDR has many options available to successfully protect and defend the GCC cyberspace assets, but these options can be complex and insufficient. This paper compares and contrasts current theater structures and relationships and recommends a course of action for the CCDR to proactively and effectively protect and defend theater cyberspace assets.