Conceptualization of Information Operations in Modelling the Understanding of a Security Environment

Abstract

Defining the security environment, which is a prerequisite for the process of defining security policies, is based on gathering and evaluating information on the political, economic, military, security, social and other characteristics of a given environment. The process of gathering and evaluating information is increasingly susceptible to external influences and manipulations via information operations of state and non-state actors, particularly with the development of information technologies. The hypothesis of this paper is that information operations influence the understanding of a security environment and as a consequence, the process of defining security policies. Based on the described hypothesis, the paper conceptualizes information operations in the modelling of the understanding of a security environment and consequently the determination of security policies, using an analysis of certain aspects of information operations and their influence on the information and information systems of the adversary.