In the face of escalating cyber threats, nations must prioritize investments in comprehensive cyber defense strategies, leveraging both advanced technology and international collaboration.
In May 2022, Costa Rica’s crippling ransomware attack exposed the vulnerability of nations lacking robust cyber defenses. Meanwhile, the United States offered hefty rewards, highlighting the international effort to dismantle cybercriminal networks. These events underscore the shifting landscape of national security, where cyberspace has become a crucial battleground.
Ranging from when NATO completed a multi-year project that involved a Cuber Security Centre and the Cyber Incident Response Capability in 2021 — the latest annual reports show an increasing interest in countries’ national defense departments in preventing, and acknowledging nation’s capabilities to deploy cyberattacks.
Recent investments in drones and unmanned systems exemplify this prioritization shift, recognizing the potential high impact of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure including against oil and gas pipelines, and rail systems.
On September 2022, in Netherlands —which has the highest digital transformation opportunity index worldwide — the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security published the National Cyber Security Strategy, detailing 2028 goals as “four pillars” on cyber education, preparedness, attack response, and security systems.
The Munich Security Report highlights the rise of a dilemma between national security departments to decide whether prioritize modernization efforts or traditional security. It focused on Europe’s example, and cited UK Chief of General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders “you can’t cyber your war across a river”. It concluded that despite many authorities look to the Ukraine conflict, the case itself offers ambiguous answers and the EU should focus more on collaborated cyber efforts and investment in drones than on state-of-art technology.
Other major global responses include:
United States
Continues to develop offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, highlighting in their latest National Threat Report: the complex nature of cyberwarfare.
South Korea
Redirects defense policy towards advanced technology and cybersecurity, reflecting regional concerns.
Japan
Focuses on space, cyberspace, and the electromagnetic spectrum, building a comprehensive “multi-domain defense force.”
China
Modernizes its Strategic Support Force, emphasizing cyber, space, and information dominance capabilities.
The recent Iranian cyber activities targeting Israel demonstrate the need for citizen awareness and preparedness. Recognizing that most attacks exploit low preparedness, investing in public education alongside state-of-the-art technology is crucial. Furthermore, as most information and cyber attacks come from low preparedness, this will not only bolster national defense but also to to identify disinformation, protect personal data, and report suspicious activity at all institutional levels of private services and government.
Written by Emily Ulloa
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