Vanguard Magazine

26 DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 www.vanguardcanada.com CYBER active cyber operations will improve the ability for the DND and CAF to deliver their mandates and will increase the suc- cess of the military missions. The details of this initiative are classified; however, it can be assured that its progress is closely moni- tored by senior leadership. Investing in Joint Capabilities The development and acquisition of joint command and control systems and equip- ment and joint signals intelligence capabili- ties are not purely within the cyber domain but will rely heavily on cyber capabilities to improve the military's ability to advance in intelligence and command, control and communications. Currently, there are several long-term in- vestments that will improve the cyber do- main and cryptographic operations utilized by the CAF elements. The overarching ef- fort will integrate existing and future assets into a networked, joint system-of-systems with joint capabilities focused on produc- ing actionable intelligence and maximizing its use in operations and mission activities. Enhanced joint capabilities are sup- ported by broader initiatives, such as cyber security, threat identification and response, situational awareness with military-specific information operations and offensive cyber operations capabilities that target, exploit, influence and attack further supporting military operations. Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Other Critical Growth Areas Aside from the above themes and while not designated as cyber domain enhance- ments, there are other initiatives and pro- grams that will depend on and demand priority on the DND and CAF's cyber se- curity and cyber defence capabilities under Strong, Secure, Engaged. Playing a key role in military operations, such as targeting, forecasting and identify- ing emerging threats, defence intelligence relies on the cyber domain for confidenti- ality, integrity and availability, generating analysis, transmission, sharing and storage. As the need for intelligence is steadily in- creasing, managing the additional strain on cyber capabilities, technologies, archi- tectures and resources will be a key area of risk mitigation. With the lateral integration of the cy- ber domain and its peripheral supports across military operations, electronic as- sets will continue to be an attractive target for potential adversaries, state proxies and non-state actors. Already developing the means to exploit vulnerabilities and embed surveillance and reconnaissance activities, these adversaries will stay focused on ex- filtrating assets and disrupting command, control, communications and intelligence transmission. While there are several new and exist- ing projects and programs that will also demand the same priority of functions in the cyber domain, the following are large, long term investments presenting a higher degree of criticality for military missions. The Canadian Forces Land Electronic Warfare Modernization (CFLEWM) will modernize the Canadian Army's ability to engage and defend against electronic threats along with the Naval Electronic Warfare System - Sub Surface, Canadian Forces Electronic Warfare Support, CF-18 Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite and the Electronic Warfare Squadron - Kingston. The Land Force Intelligence, Surveil- lance, Target Acquisition and Recon- naissance (or Land Force ISTAR) is an omnibus of sub-projects that will deliver communications, command and control and sensors, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), In-Service Sensors (ISS) and Medium-Range Radar (MRR) proj- ects as part of this capability. The Land Command, Control, Commu- nications, Computers, Intelligence, Sur- veillance and Reconnaissance (LC4ISR) System is a fully integrated tactical network composed of computers, sensors, telecom- munications equipment, hardware, firm- ware, and software elements that will pro- vide information to commanders to make timely decisions and conduct deployed operations. Judging by the many projects listed above across Strong, Secure, Engaged ini- tiatives and themes, it is clear that earlier assessments were correct: Strong, Secure, Engaged is an impressive, substantial and well-detailed defence policy that, once the majority of its capabilities are implement- ed, will truly transform and modernize the DND and CAF. With a small number of projects behind them, the DND and CAF has many more to go before that day. In the meantime, the hard work of the men and women of the DND and CAF is apparent. Each day, they demonstrate their commitment to protecting and de- fending the interests of Canada. On top of that, many are supporting complex, criti- cal projects and programs that will fulfill the policy direction of Strong, Secure, En- gaged, ensuring Canada is safe, secure and prosperous for decades to come. A few more good reasons to thank those who serve. Valarie Findlay is an American Society for Evidenced-Based Policing member and a research fellow for the Police Foundation (USA) with two decades of senior-level expertise in cybersecurity and policing ini- tiatives. She has worked extensively on federal cyber initiatives and is a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police eCrimes Cyber Council and AFCEA DC. She has a Masters in Sociology and a Masters in Terrorism Studies with her dissertation addressing the impacts of terrorism on law enforcement in Western Nations. At the Canadian Army's first Cyber Mission Assurance Workshop in January 2019, Colonel Mark Parsons, Director Land Command and Information, underscored that Canada must keep pace with potential adversaries, noting "considerable risk to the Army's mission and security." Colonel Mark Parsons, Director Land Command and Information

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