{"id":6673,"date":"2018-04-19T06:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T04:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.military-history.us\/?p=6673"},"modified":"2018-04-11T07:28:05","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T05:28:05","slug":"book-review-introduction-to-cyber-warfare-a-multidisciplinary-approach-by-paulo-shakarian-jana-shakarian-and-andrew-ruef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.military-history.us\/2018\/04\/book-review-introduction-to-cyber-warfare-a-multidisciplinary-approach-by-paulo-shakarian-jana-shakarian-and-andrew-ruef\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Introduction to cyber-warfare: A multidisciplinary approach by Paulo Shakarian, Jana Shakarian, and Andrew Ruef"},"content":{"rendered":"

All leaders in the United States military should be required to read Introduction to cyber-warfare: A multidisciplinary approach<\/em><\/a>.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 Paulo Shakarian, Jana Shakarian, and Andrew Ruef authored this book to address the need for knowledge and an understanding of the complexity of Cyber warfare from more than a computer science or information technology perspective.\u00a0 The authors examine key areas of Cyber warfare that are extremely important for a leader in the United States military to understand from more than a military application alone.\u00a0 As stated in the title, the book uses a multidisciplinary approach to explaining Cyber warfare by using case studies, technical information, as well as the military, political, scientific, and social ramifications of Cyber warfare.\u00a0 The following outlines the order of this paper: an analysis of the authors\u2019 qualifications, a summary of the book, and a brief statement of the strengths and weaknesses of the book.\u00a0 Throughout the review, references from the book support the analysis presented.<\/p>\n

First discussed is the authors\u2019 expertise and a brief overview of the sources used.\u00a0 Each of the authors brings unique expertise from their relevant fields that include the perspectives of a Cyber security researcher, a social science researcher, and an information security analyst.\u00a0 Each author brings a different viewpoint on Cyber warfare. \u00a0This multi-disciplinary approach makes the book unique and relevant to a wide variety of readers.\u00a0 There are more than one hundred diverse sources cited in this book that are relevant to the topics discussed and support the assertions made by the authors.<\/p>\n

Instead of simply organizing the book chronologically over the evolution of Cyber warfare, the authors formed their work into three parts: Cyber-attack, Cyber espionage and exploitation, and Cyber operations for infrastructure attack.\u00a0 This approach allowed the authors to group the ideas into three distinct areas to explain how Cyber is used to achieve political objectives, steal data, and attack physical infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Sorting the topics into these three areas enabled the authors to emphasize their evidence in support of their conclusions in an organized manner.\u00a0 The authors used specific examples as evidence.\u00a0 Russia\u2019s use of Cyber in military operations, Israel-Hezbollah Cyber-attacks on each other, China\u2019s use of Cyber to steal data, and the attack on Iran\u2019s nuclear facility are some of these examples.\u00a0 All are critical to the areas of focused in the book. \u00a0Without discussion of these topics and case studies, the book would not have the desired impact or intended validity.<\/p>\n

While a strength of this book is the multiple perspectives it provides, having multiple authors is also one of the most significant weaknesses of the book. \u00a0Some sections of the book are very technical while others just skim the surface of the technical details.\u00a0 In order for this book to be effectively utilized by the greatest audience within the military leadership, technical details should be explained or only included at a level appropriate to an audience without computer science or information technology background.<\/p>\n

To conclude, the authors masterfully used Introduction to cyber-warfare: A multidisciplinary approach<\/em> to fill a gap within the Cyber knowledge base and provide a tool for military leaders to access to keep abreast of changes in the conduct of warfare.\u00a0 This book takes a uniquely diverse approach to discussing Cyber warfare and instructs the reader on the complexities of its conduct. \u00a0Therefore, this book should be required reading for military leadership.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Shakarian, Paulo, Jana Shakarian, and Andrew Ruef. Introduction to cyber-warfare: A multidisciplinary approach. Newnes, 2013.<\/p>\n