Summary

Information warfare is an embracing concept that brings to bear all the resources of a nation-state or business organization in a coherent and synchronized manner to control the information environment and to attain and maintain a competitive advantage, and to gain power and influence. Judicious use of IW, when coupled with knowledge management and Network Centric Business, leads to reduced or avoided costs, increased revenues, more satisfied customers, and greater profits and national security. Governments and businesses can use IW offensively and defensively in the physical and virtual domains. Counters to IW do not have to be in kind; they can be no, low, or high technology; and they can be asymmetric. Not conducting IW will result in a reduced market presence and lower national security. Although the name may change over the years, IW will evolve from its nascent stage and become mainstream in 20 years.

IW occurs when, in the physical and virtual domains, you attack your competition or they attack you. IW is about synchronized and coherent relationships and capabilities. As previously discussed, central to IW are those physical and virtual capabilities to control the IE.