The Pentagon says that information system survivability will be one of the biggest national security concerns in the next century. In 1995, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and the National Security Agency (NSA) agreed to establish the Information System Security Research Joint Technology Office (ARPA, 1995). Other Pentagon documents confirm this fear about information survivability (Swett, 1995; DoD, 1995). Part of the concern stems from the fact that the United States' National Information Infrastructure (NII) is intricately woven into the Global Information Infrastructure (GII), thus making information systems within the United States vulnerable to attack and intrusion. (Molander, Riddile, and Wilson, 1996).

Methods to counter intrusion include moving DoD email use off common carrier systems and onto secure inside lines or implementing better methods of digital encryption. (As well as emphasizing offensive methods to identify intruders and troublespots on the net. [Swett,1995])

There have been numerous successful break-ins. Information survivability is a serious concern for hegemonic forces and an area where they need to concentrate efforts. It is primarily a 'core' country problem where information systems are integral to virtually all societal operations.