Cyberwarfare: Information Operations in a Connected World, 2nd Edition

The Cyber Kill Chain^®

Military targeting specialists use the concept of a kill chain to describe how they move from intelligence gathering that identifies appropriate targets to the process of engaging and destroying the adversary. The traditional kill chain is described in the military’s Joint Targeting Manual and consists of six steps:

1. Find—Identify targets and collect intelligence about them.

2. Fix—Focus sensors on the target and locate it in time and space.

3. Track—Maintain tracking information on the target and conduct additional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as necessary.

4. Target—Select appropriate weapons, conduct a risk assessment, and decide upon the plan of engagement.

5. Engage—Transmit the order to attack and strike the ...