Book Review: Cyberspace in Peace and War, Second Edition

Cyberspace in Peace and War, 2nd Edition, By Martin C. Libicki, Ph.D. Naval Institute Press; usni.org/press; 492 pages; $60.

Don’t get turned off by the number of pages and the small print. If you are concerned about cybersecurity, this is the authoritative, non-technical book to read. The text is an intriguing history of the art and science of past and present attempts, successes, and denials. The author, with more than 25 years of experience in the field, teaches cyber policy, cyber warfare, and related subjects at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Martin Libicki uses corporate and government incidents to discuss the various facets of the cyber war being conducted by private hackers, commercial groups, entities, and government-connected and government agencies to steal information, conduct espionage activities, and create disruption to vital cyber systems inherent in corporate and vital infrastructure and defense programs. A section on artificial intelligence (AI) gives the reader insight on concerns of non-human interaction between AI entities. The author’s focus is on presenting cyber warfare fundamentals, so that the reader can develop the tactics and strategies to deny or mitigate intrusions of those systems. He achieves that goal.

Of particular interest, the author delves more deeply into Chinese and Russian cyberwar programs, their objectives, successes, and failures. The author concludes that both programs are quite competent and will integrate disinformation and psychological warfare with cyber in ever-increasing attacks against their opponents.

It is evident by Libicki’s in-depth research that cyber warfare is here to stay. But it is manageable by vigilant countermeasures. As cyberspace is becoming more integral in everyday operations, this text provides all security leaders a good, realistic basis upon which to build recommendations and programs for their constituents.

Reviewer: James T. (Tom) Roberts, CPP, is president, Starboard Focus Continuity Planners. Previously, he was chief security officer, U.S. Army Medical Command, and later U.S. Marshal, Southern District of Georgia. He served on the ASIS Professional Certification Board, chaired the Item Development Group, Law Enforcement Liaison and Healthcare Security Councils, and has been a regional vice president and chapter chair.