Offensive Cyber Operations Part One: The Nature of Offensive Cyber Operations

Abstract

There has been a huge debate in many countries about developing offensive cyber capabilities. However, not only the offensive cyber capabilities but also the consequences of their use are really serious questions. Accordingly, this paper’s title also raises many questions. Is it necessary to build and maintain offensive cyber capabilities? Is this equivalent to building cyberattack capabilities? Under what conditions can these capabilities be applied in case of state support or involvement behind a cyberattack? Can an attack in cyberspace be part of the modern warfare? These issues are being considered in this two-part paper. The first part of the study examines the general background of offensive cyber capabilities, while the second part examines the conditions for developing skills, their organisational background and the ways and conditions of using them.