Dr. Max Smeets, a Senior Researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, is an expert in military cyber-force development. He discusses the complexities nations face in building military cyber capabilities and the evolution of military cyber operations. Smeets unpacks the P, P, T, I, O framework and highlights the critical role of workforce and infrastructure. He also delves into the use of cyber proxies, the myths surrounding cyber operations, and the importance of balancing work with insightful reading.
Dr. Max Smeets emphasizes the need for new strategic frameworks in military cyber operations to effectively address the unique challenges of cyberspace.
The distinction between cyber espionage and cyber attacks is complex and highlights the operational and ethical dilemmas faced by states in cyber conflict.
Deep dives
Current Role and Research Focus
Dr. Max Smietz currently serves as a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies in Zurich, where he enjoys academic freedom to explore various topics related to military cyber operations, particularly in the realms of cybercrime and ransomware. In addition to his research, he is the director of the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative, which aims to foster interdisciplinary studies on cyber conflict across Europe. This initiative includes a fellowship program that has accepted a diverse group of researchers from various backgrounds, such as journalism, government, and academia. Dr. Smietz's work allows him to bridge both research and practical initiatives, enhancing understanding of cyber issues in a collaborative manner.
Evolution of Military Cyber Studies
The field of military cyber operations research has evolved significantly, with notable shifts occurring since the late 1990s and early 2000s, particularly after high-profile events like the Estonia and Georgia cyber attacks. There has been a surge in academic interest since the discovery of Stuxnet in 2010, resulting in a growing community that applies traditional international relations concepts to cyber conflict. While some scholars argue that cyberwarfare introduces revolutionary changes to strategic military concepts, others suggest it does not fundamentally alter the existing landscape. The current trend involves integrating intelligence literature into cyber research, highlighting the need for new strategic frameworks that address unique challenges posed by cyberspace.
Challenges in Establishing Military Cyber Forces
The concept of military cyber forces refers to the establishment of dedicated cyber commands or branches within military structures, which varies greatly across countries, ranging from the extensive capabilities of the US Cyber Command to smaller divisions in other nations. Despite this trend, many countries struggle to effectively operationalize their cyber commands due to a lack of resources, organizational challenges, and differing legal frameworks that govern military operations. Dr. Smietz's book explores how the perceived proliferation of cyber capabilities does not necessarily equate to effective cyber warfare capabilities, emphasizing that operational challenges remain significant. He argues that understanding these barriers is essential for assessing the true capabilities of states in the cyber domain.
The Complexity of Cyber Operations
Dr. Smietz discusses the complexities inherent in cyber operations, especially the nuanced distinction between concepts like cyber espionage and cyber attacks, which can often overlap in practice. The infrastructure required for effective cyber operations is often more extensive and costly than the capabilities such as tools and exploits, with emphasis placed on training and organizational structure. Furthermore, the ethical implications of cyber operations reveal an uneven playing field, with different countries adhering to varying levels of legal and procedural constraints that affect decision-making. This complexity underlines the dilemma states face in responding to cyber threats, particularly in balancing operational agility against compliance with legal and ethical standards.
Dr. Max Smeets is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich and Director of the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative. He is the author of No Shortcuts: Why States Struggle to Develop a Military Cyber-Force from Oxford University Press and co-editor of two additional cyber-related titles, from Georgetown University Press and Edinburgh University Press, respectively. Max is an affiliate at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and an associate fellow at Royal United Services Institute. He also lectures on cyber warfare and defense as part of the Senior Officer course at the NATO Defense College in Rome.
Before his academic career, Max worked in finance in London and Amsterdam. Max received a BA in Economics, Politics and Statistics summa cum laude from University College Roosevelt, Utrecht University and an M.Phil (Brasenose College) and DPhil (St. John’s College) in International Relations from the University of Oxford.
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