Author

Leif S. King

Date of Award

12-1997

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Gregg H. Gunsch, PhD

Abstract

The Air Force Core Competency of Information Superiority will be achieved in an age of decreasing AF manpower and corporate expertise. Increased AF reliance on COTS solutions, coupled with nearly ubiquitous points of entry to communication networks, create unique challenges in maintaining the Information Superiority edge. The protection of the internet is part of this equation. The internet supports the daily business traffic of the Air Force. Personnel, finance, and supply data flow through its routers. Controlling an adversary's access to our information systems, either the data, or the hardware and software that control the data and transform it into information, is a key operation of Defensive Information Warfare which is the primary focus in maintaining Information Superiority. This research will attempt to answer the viability of implementing measures designed to ensure the survivability of the internet communications infrastructure against Denial of Service attacks. It will provide planners the information to make decisions based on the cost and benefit tradeoffs associated with such measures. The requirements of system survivability are a superset of those that ensure security. The Air Force will need the cooperation of outside agencies to build survivability into the systems we rely on, but don't necessarily control.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GCS-ENG-97D-12

DTIC Accession Number

ADA336966

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