Multi-Agent Influence Diagrams to Hybrid Threat Modeling

TL;DR

This paper introduces a multi-agent influence diagram framework to model and analyze the effectiveness of counter-hybrid threat measures, providing insights into strategic interactions and policy implications.

Contribution

It unifies hybrid threat modeling methods into a single influence diagram approach and evaluates countermeasure effectiveness through extensive simulations.

Findings

Countermeasures vary in effectiveness depending on scenario parameters.

Strengthening resilience and dissuasion are generally effective strategies.

The model offers a generalized assessment of hybrid threat countermeasures.

Abstract

Western governments have adopted an assortment of counter-hybrid threat measures to defend against hostile actions below the conventional military threshold. The impact of these measures is unclear because of the ambiguity of hybrid threats, their cross-domain nature, and uncertainty about how countermeasures shape adversarial behavior. This paper offers a novel approach to clarifying this impact by unifying previously bifurcating hybrid threat modeling methods through a (multi-agent) influence diagram framework. The model balances the costs of countermeasures, their ability to dissuade the adversary from executing hybrid threats, and their potential to mitigate the impact of hybrid threats. We run 1000 semi-synthetic variants of a real-world-inspired scenario simulating the strategic interaction between attacking agent A and defending agent B over a cyber attack on critical infrastructure to explore the effectiveness of a set of five different counter-hybrid threat measures. Counter-hybrid measures range from strengthening resilience and denial of the adversary's ability to execute a hybrid threat to dissuasion through the threat of punishment. Our analysis primarily evaluates the overarching characteristics of counter-hybrid threat measures. This approach allows us to generalize the effectiveness of these measures and examine parameter impact sensitivity. In addition, we discuss policy relevance and outline future research avenues.