Which statement best differentiates Defensive CNO from Offensive CNO?

Which statement best differentiates Defensive CNO from Offensive CNO?

• A. Defensive CNO safeguards DoD networks and data; Offensive CNO conducts operations to disrupt or degrade adversary networks under authorization.
• B. Defensive CNO disregards data integrity; Offensive CNO emphasizes secrecy.
• C. Defensive CNO is about influence operations; Offensive CNO is about deception.
• D. Defensive CNO uses misinformation; Offensive CNO avoids targeting.

Answer: (A)

Defensive CNO vs Offensive CNO differ in purpose and authorization. Defensive CNO protects DoD networks and data by preventing, detecting, and mitigating intrusions, keeping mission capability intact, and restoring services quickly. Offensive CNO conducts operations to disrupt or degrade adversary networks and capabilities, and only under authorized policy and legal frameworks. The statement that best differentiates them captures this balance: defense is about safeguarding, while offense is about actively disrupting adversaries when authorized. Other options misstate the focus. For instance, suggesting defensive CNO disregards data integrity or that offensive CNO emphasizes secrecy isn’t accurate—the defensive side prioritizes reliability and protection, and the offensive side targets adversaries within authorized bounds. Framing defensive CNO as influence operations or offensive CNO as deception mixes in broader information operations. Saying defensive uses misinformation while offensive avoids targeting also contradicts the intended roles, since both sides revolve around protecting networks versus actively targeting adversaries.

Defensive CNO vs Offensive CNO differ in purpose and authorization. Defensive CNO protects DoD networks and data by preventing, detecting, and mitigating intrusions, keeping mission capability intact, and restoring services quickly. Offensive CNO conducts operations to disrupt or degrade adversary networks and capabilities, and only under authorized policy and legal frameworks. The statement that best differentiates them captures this balance: defense is about safeguarding, while offense is about actively disrupting adversaries when authorized.

Other options misstate the focus. For instance, suggesting defensive CNO disregards data integrity or that offensive CNO emphasizes secrecy isn’t accurate—the defensive side prioritizes reliability and protection, and the offensive side targets adversaries within authorized bounds. Framing defensive CNO as influence operations or offensive CNO as deception mixes in broader information operations. Saying defensive uses misinformation while offensive avoids targeting also contradicts the intended roles, since both sides revolve around protecting networks versus actively targeting adversaries.