It’s an unavoidable fact that modern warfare has progressed way beyond the likes of missiles, trenches and traditional battlefields. Rather, the power in today’s conflicts is exerted just as much through psychological tactics and digital influence as it is through bombs and bullets. Such non-violent methods are referred to as non-kinetic operations, and they are playing an ever increasing role in shaping the outcomes of conflicts across the globe. Osavul software can help to combat such threats.
The first question to address is simply, what are non-kinetic operations?
At the basic level, the definition of non-kinetic operations is any strategy that does not depend on physical force, but rather utilizing tools such as:
• Cyber disruptions and intrusions.
• Media manipulation.
• Social and psychological influence.
• Economic coercion.
Non-kinetic operations are deployed with the intention of eroding confidence, manipulating public perception and fracturing targeted institutions. In contrast to more conventional warfare attacks, these actions are carried out in the information space.
Though seemingly abstract to contemplate, the effects of such methods are very real. They do not replace traditional conflict, but they absolutely precede and complement it.
Familiar military campaigns usually involve occupying territory in order to neutralize enemies, but non kinetic operations focus on shaping public perception and applying high levels of pressure without having to cross a physical threshold.Some examples of real-world applications of non kinetic operations include:There is a temptation to assume that InfoSec is just about IT teams and network architecture, but there is a large element of strategy and foresight involved alongside. The truth is that the best information security connects the operations of an entire organization, from HR to executive leadership and every level in between.
Some of the key elements of a good InfoSec program include:
Campaigns that are timed to coincide with elections or other geopolitical events, aiming to create social unrest and sway public opinion in a desired way.
Often, even a single email released at the right time can dominate discourse and change public sentiment.
The disruption of things like communication networks, power grids, and financial systems which can create real chaos without any soldier deployment.
In which access to essential goods is restricted, or economic pressure is applied on key industries to strain the morale and resilience of a country.
It is the ambiguous nature of non-kinetic operations that makes them so effective. They are often deployed within moral and legal ‘gray zones’, making them hard to attribute and difficult to respond to. Unlike bombs and missiles, these kinds of tools are used discreetly, allowing attacking forces to maintain a level of plausible deniability as they wreak havoc.
The subtle and complex nature of these tactics means that gaining an understanding of them in real time can be a difficult task. This is where an advanced monitoring system like Osavul can step in.
Through analyzing things like online social media trends, digital signals, and behavior patterns, Osavul is able to provide invaluable insights into how influence campaigns evolve. It allows users to:
• Detect any anomalies in online sentiment and/or media coverage.
• Monitor shifts in narrative across multiple platforms.
• Identify potential methods and actors involved in influencing.
• Trace and track coordinated bursts of activity across different networks.
From a wider information security (InfoSec) point of view, Osavul can help an organization to respond as quickly as possible, with the best strategy, to any threats within the digital sphere. Rather than only detecting isolated events, it also works to contextualize them within the larger web of non-kinetic operations.
It is more urgent than ever to understand these tactics and know how to counter them. From zones of conflict to contentious elections and more, the battleground is drawn out long before any physical shots are fired.
Non-kinetic operations can:
• Sow a major division within a society.
• Undermine confidence in established institutions.
• Derail the prospect of a true democratic process.
• Provide the foundation for a kinetic conflict to follow.
The vital crux of the matter is that by the time a physical conflict begins, the groundwork will have already been laid. From this point of view, early detection of such campaigns is a key part of an information security strategy and national defense.
Today’s world is more interconnected than ever before, to the extent that no average civilian can be classed as a passive bystander. Public opinion is a battlefield all of its own, with consumers of news, voters, and social media users all participating in the environment.
From this point, geopolitical tensions are only going to grow more complex. As a result, non-kinetic operations can no longer be regarded as an afterthought. They are absolutely central to how influence and power can be gained in the 21st century.
Their detection difficulty is in their subtlety, but the impact remains profound. Tools like Osavul can be used to clear the fog and help organizations and governments alike to better track the shifting narrative of modern conflicts. When it comes to public trust, visibility is always the first line of defense.
Achieving the best possible understanding and preparation for information threats, now more than ever, is a crucial step in safeguarding democracy and preserving truth.
