Towards an Information Asset-Based Defensive Cyber Damage Assessment Process

The use of computers and communication technologies to enhance command and control (C2) processes has yielded enormous benefits in military operations. Commanders are able to make higher quality decisions by accessing a greater number of information resources, obtaining more frequent updates from their information resources, and by correlation between, and across, multiple information resources to reduce uncertainty in the battlespace. However, these benefits do not come without a cost. The reliance on technology results in significant operational risk that is often overlooked and is frequently underestimated. In this research-in-progress paper, we discuss our initial findings in our efforts to improve the defensive cyber battle damage assessment process within US Air Force networks. We have found that the lack of a rigorous, well-documented, information asset-based risk management process results in significant uncertainty and delay when assessing the impact of an information incident.