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

Mission Assurance

The United States DOD uses a concept known as mission assurance as a key part of its defense-in-depth strategy. Mission assurance is defined as “a process to ensure that assigned tasks or duties can be performed in accordance with the intended purpose or plan … to sustain … operations throughout the continuum of operations.” In short, mission assurance in cyberwarfare operations is the process by which systems and networks are kept online and functioning. DOD helps to ensure this by using a risk management process that assesses the functional requirements of networks and systems, then matches appropriate methods of control to them to ensure that the risks they face will not disrupt them.

DOD has steadily developed its mission ...