Defense Forces Brace for Heightened Cyber Threats: Harnessing Power of Defense Cyber Security
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| Defense Cyber Security |
Cyber
Attacks Pose Grave Risks to Military Networks and Infrastructure
Cyber-attacks targeting military networks and critical infrastructure have
become an increasingly serious national security threat in recent years.
Defense cyber security organizations around the world have recognized the need
to bolster their cyber defences in order to protect sensitive data and
mission-critical systems from sophisticated state-sponsored hackers and cyber
criminals. While cyber defences have strengthened in many areas, adversaries
continue developing new techniques, requiring constant vigilance and adaptation
from military cyber security teams.
Network Perimeters Under Attack
Traditional network perimeter defences like firewalls are no longer sufficient
to prevent advanced persistent threats. State actors like China, Russia, North
Korea and Iran have developed capabilities to penetrate deeply into target
networks despite such protections. Once inside perimeter networks,
well-resourced cyber actors can move laterally, maintaining persistent access
for espionage or laying the groundwork for disruptive attacks. The U.S.
Department of Defense
Cyber Security notes its networks face hundreds of attacks daily and
important data is still compromised occasionally despite significant
investments in cyber security programs over the last decade. Other military
networks worldwide face similar risks.
Insider Threats augment Risks
In addition to external cyber-attacks, insider threats from privileged users
also endanger military networks. Disaffected engineers, contractors or other
personnel with high-level access present ongoing risks of deliberate data
theft, sabotage or simply negligent behavior exposing sensitive data. Recent
high-profile cases demonstrate the damage insiders enabled by hostile foreign
intelligence services can cause. Strong identity management, data security and
monitoring are needed to safeguard against these threat vectors while
respecting privacy and civil liberties. Physical security of network equipment
must also be rigorously maintained to prevent sabotage.
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities Targeted
The globalized nature of the modern technology supply chain introduces serious
vulnerabilities. State actors attempt to introduce exploits into software,
hardware or online services before they are integrated into military networks.
The complex web of commercial software and components powering military IT
infrastructure creates avenues for adversaries to potentially access and
control critical systems over time in subtle ways. Close scrutiny and testing
of all components, as well as diversifying suppliers, helps address this risk
but cannot eliminate it entirely given economic pressures towards consolidation
and outsourcing.
As defense cyber security forces increasingly adopt novel technologies like
artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, cloud computing and the internet
of things, new challenges arise. Today’s cyber defenses were not designed with
these emerging technologies in mind, and adversaries will seek to manipulate or
disrupt emerging systems that could alter military balances. Military cyber
security teams must develop new approaches for emerging technologies that
differ greatly from traditional centralized network architectures. Protecting
AI training data and models from poisoning or manipulation will become
especially important, as will assuring the integrity of autonomous and remotely
controlled weapon platforms and sensors. Adversarial machine learning
techniques developing in parallel will raise the stakes further. Proactive
planning and experimentation with new defensive paradigms will be crucial for
military organizations to stay ahead of threats in this evolving domain.
Information Operations Demand Vigilance
State and non-state actors also conduct “gray zone” cyber and information
operations below the threshold of overt conflict or violence. Disinformation
campaigns, propaganda dissemination and efforts to manipulate public opinion
represent serious concerns for military organizations seeking to control their
public image and communicate strategy effectively. Malign actors infiltrate
social media, plant fake news stories and leak sensitive material to shape
perceptions and divides societies. Defending against foreign influence
operations demands constant social media monitoring, effective communications
strategies and policies addressing insider leaks of sensitive data with care
for ethics and oversight. While less directly damaging than infrastructure
attacks, corrosive information operations pose new challenges for military
credibility and public trust.
Cooperation is Key to Meeting Shared
Challenges
No single nation can overcome emerging cyber threats alone given their complex
multi-national nature. Information sharing between military and intelligence
services regarding new tactics, vulnerabilities and indicators of compromise
helps all parties obtain better situational awareness and rapidly distribute
defenses. Formal collaboration on technical standards, personnel exchanges and
joint research and development accelerates response abilities. In an
interconnected world with intractable cyber threats, cooperative frameworks
like NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence have taken on
increased importance to national and global security, especially as new types
of attacks multiply regularly. While geopolitical tensions strain cooperation
at times, shared interests in defense cyber security will continue driving military
alliances to deepen cyber relationships moving forward.
Persistent and continually evolving cyber threats endangering sensitive
military systems are among the foremost national security challenges of the
21st century. Adversarial capabilities have grown dramatically, necessitating
stronger internal security practices and controls as well as formalized
cooperation between allies. Defense cyber security organizations must stay
current on defensive technologies and strategies to keep sensitive data and
infrastructure safe from both external hackers and insider risks. Further
investments in emerging capabilities addressing novel technologies, supply
chain vulnerabilities and information influence operations will also prove
crucial. Through constant adaptation, rigorous vigilance and reliance on
collaboration, military cyber security teams endeavor to maintain resilience
against the complex multi-dimensional cyber threats confronting global
stability.
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