Skip to Main Content
Cyber Operations
book

Cyber Operations

by Jerry M. Couretas
April 2024
Intermediate to advanced content levelIntermediate to advanced
320 pages
8h 58m
English
Wiley
Content preview from Cyber Operations

11Strategic Cyber Effects (2)

11.1 Critical Infrastructure Strategic Cyber Effects

Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure can produce nightmare scenarios. For example, a 2015 Lloyd’s of London study, “Business Blackout,” showed a possible 93 million Americans, across 11 states and the District of Columbia, being without power due to a cyber attack, costing an estimated $243 Billion, $1 Trillion in the most stressing scenario (Trevor Maynard, 2015).

In addition to catastrophic scenarios, we now have ransomware gangs, criminals, attacking critical infrastructure targets, and holding them hostage. For example, Russian ransomware gangs (e.g., CONTI) became famous for attacking critical infrastructure in Brazil (JBS Foods), Costa Rica (Government IT), and the United States (Colonial Oil, NEW Cooperative) in 2021. These critical infrastructure targets are considered strategic due to the life‐sustaining necessity of keeping these services available.

11.1.1 Critical Infrastructure

The 16 critical infrastructure sectors (Chapter 4) are designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide an overview of how policymakers view the importance of certain public services. The denial or manipulation of any of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors therefore constitutes a strategic effect, meriting at least a law enforcement response.

11.1.1.1 Energy Sector

Energy, especially electricity, is used to support almost every other service. The possible harm due to an electrical ...

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Start your free trial

You might also like

Inside Cyber Warfare, 3rd Edition

Inside Cyber Warfare, 3rd Edition

Jeffrey Caruso
Cyber Threat Hunting

Cyber Threat Hunting

Nadhem AlFardan
Practical Cyber Intelligence

Practical Cyber Intelligence

Adam Tilmar Jakobsen

Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781119712091Purchase Link