GAO: Conflicting orders have led to confusion over DOD’s cyber strategy

The military’s war-fighting commands are unsure how to handle cyberspace activities, but a strategy that could alleviate the confusion is months from completion.

“Conflicting statements have led to confusion among the combatant commands about command and control over cyber operations,” Government Accountability Office analysts said. A 2008 Defense Department-wide plan assigns the new U.S. Cyber Command with the duties for overseeing military network operations, as well as all planning for and defending against cyberspace foes. “But it also states that geographic combatant commanders are to exercise authority over all commands and forces within their areas of responsibility,” the GAO analysts said in a briefing presented as part of an online forum sponsored by Government Executive magazine.