Addressing Terrorist Use of the Internet,
Cyber Crime and Other Threats:
National Expert Workshop
Forging a Comprehensive
Approach to Cyber Security
Richard Giragosian
Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS)
Yerevan, Armenia
8-9 December 2010
Outline
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Framing the issue: cyber security
• Significance of cyber security
• Fundamentals of cyber security
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Cyber crime
Implications for Armenia
• Social/political
• Economic
• Military/security
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Critical infrastructure
Cyber challenges & cyber security goals
Conclusions
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Framing the Issue: A Comprehensive
Approach to Cyber Security
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Cyber security requires shared
solutions to shared threats
Cyber security is a dynamic, not
static process
Cyber threats know no borders
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Significance of Cyber Security
Cyber Security provides three elements:
• Engagement: foundation for economic,
social and political development
• Empowerment: platform for activism and
social networking for “netizens”
• Entrepreneurship: incentive for
technological innovation and R&D
Cyber Security is also necessary for the
development of a knowledge-based
economy
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Fundamentals of Cyber Security
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Cyber threat preparation: raising
awareness and public education of
prudent and safe use of Internet
Cyber threat perception: understanding
the nature of cyber threats
Cyber Threat prevention: defending
against cyber threats before, not after
cyber attacks
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Cyber Crime
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Cyber Crime is the use or targeting of a
computer network (and the Internet) for
criminal enterprise or offense
Cyber Crime is not new, and is constantly
changing as criminals use advances in
technology to commit new, more
sophisticated crimes
Information is the only commodity that can
be stolen without being taken
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Cyber Crime Today
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Serious cyber criminals: more
organized, more global, more
sophisticated
Serious methods: Cyber Criminals can
strike ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME
Law enforcement needs more tools,
training & resources, but there is also a
need for greater public awareness and
for education and training of specialists
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Cyber Crime & Cyber Security
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Cyber Crime is directly linked to cyber
security;
Cyber security is directly linked to
national security
The cyber threat is a dynamic and
growing threat to security and spans
many types of crimes (terrorist
financing, money laundering, identity
theft, etc.)
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Cyber Crime as a Global Threat
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Cyber crime is rooted in globalization &
the expansion of the networked
Internet
Cyber crime has no borders or
boundaries, and can attack many
countries at once
Cyber crime has no limits: it can target
anyone, anywhere, anytime
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The Center of Gravity:
The Computer
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a computer can be the target of
crime, attacked to damage or steal
information from a computer or
computer network
a computer can be a technique to
commit crime, used for fraud or theft
a computer can be a tool to fight
crime, by analyzing evidence (a
“forensic footprint”)
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The New Cyber Threat
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The Internet is a critical, global
infrastructure for economic, political and
military power
Cyber technology creates new
dependencies & interdependencies
Cyber technologies redefined security:
physical attacks have cyber consequences
and cyber attacks have physical
consequences
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Implications for Armenia
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Social/Political: credibility, efficacy &
legitimacy of government efforts
Economic: consumer confidence & trust,
investment climate
Military/Security: cyber war &
cyberspace as the new battlefield;
protecting critical infrastructure
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Social/Political Implications
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Credibility & efficacy: combating cyber
crime also bolsters state anti-corruption
efforts
Legitimacy & trust: failure to confront cyber
crime leads to a loss of confidence and erosion
of trust in government
Global responsibility: fighting cyber crime is
an essential global obligation
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Economic Implications for Armenia
Without adequate cyber security,
several economic trends emerge:
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consumer confidence & trust erodes
business reputations and the national
business environment declines
foreign investment is reduced
global economic integration is hindered
economic development is impeded
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Military Implications for Armenia
Cyber Space as a new battlefield
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Adversaries are well aware of cyber
warfare; new doctrine
Terrorists developing cyber capabilities
Military communications & critical
infrastructure are vulnerable;
and prone to an over-reliance on existing
civilian networks
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Critical Infrastructure
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Telecommunications
Banking & financial
services
Government services:
E-Government
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Energy networks &
safety systems
Transportation- air
safety & border
security
Defense & security:
data networks and
communications
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Cyber Challenges
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To see cyber security being as
important as physical security
Recognition of the real threat
environment
Understand that the threat is as
diversified as the targets
The threat will change as
rapidly as technology
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Cyber Security Goals
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Need to raise public awareness of cyber
security & safe, prudent use of Internet
Assess new cyber trends, threats &
vulnerabilities
Incorporate lessons learned &
international best practices
Develop counter measures & safeguards
Adopt and pursue comprehensive
approach to cyber security
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Conclusion
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Cyber threats are real & growing
New technologies forge new
vulnerabilities
New vulnerabilities foster new threats
As the nature of national security has
changed, the response must also adapt
And the most important pipelines in this
region transport neither oil nor
gas…..they carry data, the most
significant pipelines are fiber optic
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