A cybernetics paradigms framework for cyberspace: Key lens to cybersecurity

Abstract

There is no denial on the growing importance of cybersecurity in today's ever increasing globalized world. Yet nations, enterprises and even small organizations still face difficulties with external and internal threats due to the approaches to cybersecurity that are reductionist in nature. Dealing with cybersecurity at the international, national and enterprise level needs approaches that works across many disciplines and are holistic. Cybernetics is one such promising approach that will aid cybersecurity at all levels due to its multidisciplinary nature. But there have been no significant efforts or studies to use cybernetics for cyber-security. In this paper, we propose a generic cybernetics paradigms framework for cyberspace that will be useful to study various mechanisms of cyberspace from economics, engineering, software and social perspectives. It is argued that holistic understanding of cyberspace is the key for effective diagnosis and design of cyber-security of a nation or enterprise or small organization.

Representing a Human-Centric Cyberspace

“…Within the current paper, we highlight the lack of research and associated literature that models and considers humans as integral within cyberspace. Drawing upon some recent examples where humans have been considered to some extent [2] [19] [25] [27] [31] and through consideration of human physicality, cognitive abilities (e.g., perception, attention, thinking) and human social and economic factors, we have developed and present the first version of the HCCM. With humans included within conceptualizations of cyberspace, the model allows for important considerations to be recognized as areas for research investigation within the field of human-centric cybersecurity, and beyond.…”

“…The movement of information ultimately affects outcomes and decisions at sociospatial endpoints. For example, one model, based on cybernetics -"the scientific study of control and communication in the human and the machine" by Norbert Wiener [17], [18], identifies engineering [geospace] and software [infospace] aspects of machines in cyberspace, and, economic and socio-cultural aspects [sociospace] relating to human users [19]. These models represent, to some extent, a human end-point element to cyberspace, however it is an indirect role.…”