A poisoned Potomac River flowing through Washington, D.C., drones colliding with public buildings, and railways being weaponized were once fictional scenarios highlighted by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission in its initial 2020 report. While such catastrophes have been avoided, the U.S. remains highly vulnerable to cyberattacks aimed at critical infrastructures like communication, energy, healthcare, transportation, and water sectors. These sectors have already faced minor breaches, but the risk of a major cyberattack looms large. More detailed insights can be found in the original article from CyberScoop.
Urgent Need for Cybersecurity Improvements
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission has emphasized the need to strengthen national cybersecurity defenses, both defensively and through visible, robust deterrence. U.S. government efforts need to focus on filling thousands of vacant cybersecurity positions and upgrading outdated computer systems. Companies responsible for creating and maintaining software and hardware crucial to the economy must ensure the security of their products. On an individual level, citizens should also take steps to safeguard their digital security.
Beyond Defensive Measures
Although ramping up cybersecurity is essential, it alone cannot guarantee safety. Cyberattacks are inevitable, and some will succeed, causing significant physical and economic damage. The nation must be prepared to respond, recover, and reconstitute critical services if and when such attacks occur. This approach was reinforced by the inclusion of Section 1517 in the latest National Defense Authorization Act, which tests the resilience of infrastructure supporting military installations.
Preparing for Inevitable Attacks
Citizens must be ready to withstand potential attacks on critical infrastructure without giving in to extortion from malicious actors, whether nation-states or individuals. Civilian preparedness training and other measures can equip Americans to handle these threats. However, relying solely on defensive actions is unrealistic. The country must adopt a more aggressive strategy to deal with cyber adversaries, demonstrating the capability and willingness to retaliate against those who infiltrate critical systems.
Earlier reports on this topic emphasized the persistent threat posed by global adversaries like China and Russia, which have been infiltrating U.S. critical infrastructure for years. Previous discussions also pointed out the necessity of offensive cyber capabilities to deter these adversaries effectively. Comparing these earlier insights with the current recommendations reinforces the importance of a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
There have been ongoing debates about the visibility of U.S. offensive cyber capabilities. Some argue that strategic declassification and taking public credit for current cyber operations could enhance deterrence. While this idea has been considered before, it continues to be a contentious topic. Smarter strategies for making cyber deterrence both visible and palpable are essential to instill fear in adversaries and prevent future attacks.
Effective cyber deterrence requires adversaries to fear potential retaliation. While the risk of escalation is real, signaling a willingness to avoid conflict at all costs undermines deterrence. Nations like Russia, China, and Iran have shown they can disrupt America’s economic and security lifelines. It is imperative to demonstrate that the U.S. is ready and capable of retaliating, making clear that any cyberattack will be met with a powerful response.
