Self-Regulation and Cognitive Agility in Cyber Operations

Area of Science:

• Military science
• Cybersecurity
• Cognitive psychology

Background:

• Military operations increasingly rely on data networks, creating demand for specialized cyber personnel.
• The cyber domain is crucial for military operations and influences the physical environment.
• Effective training for cyber personnel requires understanding competencies beyond technical skills for cyber-physical environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between self-regulation and cognitive agility in military cyber defense operators.
• To determine if self-regulation predicts cognitive agility within the Hybrid Space framework.
• To inform education and training programs for military cyber personnel.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study involving 23 cyber cadets from the Norwegian Defence Cyber Academy (NDCA).
• Participants completed self-regulation questionnaires (SRQs).
• Cognitive agility was measured by self-reported cognitive movement in The Hybrid Space during a cyber defense exercise.

Main Results:

• Higher levels of self-regulation were significantly associated with displays of cognitive agility.
• Self-regulation explained 43.1% of the total cognitive movements in The Hybrid Space.
• A positive association was found between self-regulation and cognitive agility.

Conclusions:

• Self-regulation is a key factor contributing to cognitive agility in military cyber operators.
• Understanding self-regulation can enhance education and training for cyber defense personnel.
• This research provides an empirical pathway to underpin individual cyber operator performance.