Global Connectivity, Wireless and Wired Technologies - Essay Sample

Introduction

Communication networks have grown, increasing global connections and decreasing isolation among populations across the world. Both wireless and wired information technologies have emerged, and advanced communication, meaning corporations, groups, and individuals, can easily share information. With this advancement, dangers have emerged, including violent extremist networks that can anonymously share information that influences actions with negative impacts like terrorism (Armistead, 2007). To counter these challenges, the military, security agencies, departments of defense, as well as other related organizations, have developed information operations (IO), which can be used to make defensive moves against the adversary through the influence of information. This paper presents the importance of proper implementation of information operations to shape the operational environment.

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What is Information Operations?

Explain in IO

Also known as influence operations related to warfare, information operations (IO) refers to the tactical collection or assemblage of information regarding an enemy, as well as the distribution of propagandist information with the aim of having a competitive advantage over an adversary (Armistead, 2004). The process of collecting this kind of information is not only complex but also shrouded in mystery that is only shared within a few individuals that give orders in the military walls. The collection and dissemination of this information involve both direct and indirect methods, which are all left to the executive state branches like the department of defense (DOD). The United States military employs sophisticated approaches, including computer network operations, electronic warfare, military deception, psychological operations, as well as operations security.

Complex capabilities are in play as far as information operations are concerned for the purpose of the main objectives to be achieved. Through informational disruption, influence, and corruption, both human and automated adversarial decision-making processes are usurped while the military ensures that the information they release protects their case (Armistead, 2010). The people or units in charge of operation information channels do all they can to ensure that the information received by the adversary is affected while their own channels of information and the related processes are defended. The superiority in the information environment determines who gains more from the activity and who suffers the consequences of informational recklessness. Most US military missions in the enemy territories, including places like Afghanistan and Iraq depend on the information systems and the kind of information that they receive before making any choices. (Armistead, 2010; Green, 2017) It is essential to recognize the fact that improper handling of information operations can lead to wrong decisions that can either give the enemy an advantage or put the information practitioners or military units in danger.

Elements of Information Operations

The collaborative work of the information operations practitioners means there are many elements put together for IO to work. Numerous military capabilities or elements are involved in the planning process of IO. Collectively, they are referred to as information-related capabilities (IRCs) that exist in two broad categories: intrinsic and extrinsic IRCs. Intrinsic IRCs exist within operational units that carry out the missions, while extrinsic IRCs are existing external chains of commands above the functional units on the ground. Without any order, these capabilities include Joint Interagency Coordination Groups, Strategic Communication, Cyberspace Operations (CO), Civil-Military Operations, Information Assurance, Military Information Support Operations (MISO), Space Operations, Military Deception (MILDEC), Intelligence, Special Technical Operations, Operations Security(OPSEC), Key Leader Engagements (KLE), And Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (Richter, 2009). Other core elements include Computer Network Operations (CNO), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Psychological Operations (PSYOP), among other integrated units.

The joint interagency coordination group is responsible for timely, regular, as well as collaborative working relationships between the military operational groups and the civilians. Cyberspace operations (CO) involve the application of cyberspace capabilities to achieve defensive and offensive military objectives while also establishing and maintaining secure communications. Military deception capability is responsible for the dissemination of information purposely meant to mislead the enemy by making them fall prey to deceptive information to arrive at certain conclusions that benefit the executors. Operations security is attributed to denying the enemy the crucial information that can reveal the true intentions of the operational unit (Larson et al., 2009). Computer network operations use sophisticated computers and computer networks to not only pass information but also access vulnerabilities of the enemy computer systems to attack them. The army also utilizes computer networks to destroy, disrupt, degrade, or deny information that the enemy computer systems can access. Electronic warfare uses the electromagnetic spectrum to do many things, including gaining control of the enemy spectrum, attacking or impeding adversary assaults through the spectrum (Richter, 2009). The psychological operations incorporate well-designed actions meant to influence the emotions, objective reasoning, motives, and behaviors of foreign audiences towards the objective-directed activities of the military. This activity is also done by military information support operations. The civil-military operations include actions done by a commander of the military forces aimed at establishing, maintaining, exploiting and influencing the relationships between the populations and the military forces (Richter, 2009). Through cyberspace electromagnetic activities, the army plans, supports, synchronizes, and integrates missions in a manner that complements electromagnetic warfare operations. The soldier and leader engagement refers to the interpersonal interactions between the population leaders and soldiers in the areas of operations. These interactions are crucial since they legitimize the operations on the ground as well as the related intentions.

When to Use IO

Understanding Operational Environment

Information operations take place within the information environment, also referred to as the operational environment. Larson et al. (2009) identified a combination of factors and humans, dimensions, and components that must be well understood for better assessment of the informational surrounding. This environment has been identified and described by the US Department of Defense as the conglomeration of individuals, systems, and organizations that collect information, process, act on and disseminate it (Larson et al., 2009). There are other spectra of the operational environment, such as the electromagnetic spectrum like the wireless and wired means of dealing with information (Larson et al., 2009). The other three major dimensions of the operational environment, which information operations specialists should be well-conversant with, are the informational, cognitive, and physical dimensions. The DOD also recognizes cyberspace and social networks as parts of the larger construction of the operational or informational environment (Deckro, 2001). The armed forces conduct their security activities amidst human populations. These people are always in some kind of hybrid threats, which are well networked, technologically savvy, and innovative. With the increased use of the internet by millions of users worldwide, the social networks have already been made part of the operational environment because the magnitude of internet-based influence is so penetrative and radical. An analyst in the form of a designated representative or the chief IO officer has to analyze all components of the environment and determine how the aspects correlate or interrelate.

The physical environment involves what can be seen, observed, or touched. Such include observable human behaviors that the commander can see and report. An observed behavior can be used by the commander on the ground to assess whether or not the current efforts laid down to influence the adversary and their decision-making tendencies are effective(Keeton & McCann, 2005). Other aspects of the physical dimension include the terrain (geographical, physical, and atmospheric aspects), the populace (human composition), the social structures (human networks, cultural, political, and religious affiliations), the information structure between the government and the civilians, and the overall communication structure.

The informational dimension is responsible for capturing and organizing the occurrences or information observed in the physical dimension. From here, the information can be processed, stored, transmitted, or protected. The informational dimension acts as a bridge that links the physical with the cognitive dimension (Ahrari & Ahrari, 2017). The individual and collective perspectives and efforts of the inhabitants of the environment are categorized under the cognitive dimension. The views, comments, and efforts of the inhabitants of the area of operation can give a perspective to the present occurrences, or those that happened in the past. This information can be used by the military or armed forces to put an explanation to those happenings and devise a way to approach them. It is the dimension in which sense-making happens. The advantages achieved through the cognitive dimension are crucial to whether or not the enemy will be defeated because the cognitive dimension is linked to the psychological manipulation of the adversary (Deckro, 2001). It is not easy to fully understand the cognitive dimension meaning that great operational experts have to operate in this environment to fully exploit the informational and physical dimensions for them to overcome the challenges related to the cognitive dimension.

Identify Opportunities

Each dimension of the operational environment offers some opportunities, which can be used by the military or armed forces to gain an advantage over the adversary through information received or disseminated. The use of social media has been touted as the most effective exploitation of the informational environment because it allows the commanders to observe online interactions. Once that is done, the officers can get a better chance at controlling the kind of information they give online in a manner that can disrupt, mislead, or impair the adversary's perception of the real intentions. Social media interactions maintain the commander's ability to preserve friendly associations, making it easy to lead forces and direct operations in ways that they deem effective (Aretz, 2018). A lot of information can be accessed by the military through social media, and these include images, messages, sounds, and graphics, which can not only be analyzed for threat potential but also made to alter perceptions and behaviors to achieve profound impacts in real-time. Each action happening in each dimension has an effect on other dimensions of the operational environment. The information analysis mechanics used in the operational environment have to find out the point of convergence existing among actions of all dimensions (Larson et al., 2009). The communication infrastructure that exists among the government agencies and that which exists for civilian use can be analyzed for loopholes and weaknesses. A lot can be analyzed if the local newspapers reach the majority of the local populations. Hilly or rocky te...