Recent developments have seen the line between digital and physical threats becoming increasingly blurred, prompting major technology and security players to reassess longstanding approaches to defense. Amazon, underlining this shift, has highlighted how attackers, including nation-states, now routinely coordinate cyberattacks with real-world military operations for greater effect. Security observers note that this new operational landscape demands urgent attention and revised strategies, emphasizing joint risk management in both cyber and kinetic domains. As more hostile actors display abilities to integrate logical and physical systems, experts suggest that organizations and governments must elevate their vigilance as well as their collaborative efforts.
Looking at earlier reports, the integration of cyber and kinetic operations was typically notable among only the most advanced nation-states with demonstrated cyber-military capacity. However, the latest observations from Amazon Threat Intelligence indicate that such tactics are now expanding beyond conventional actors, with less traditional groups learning how to blend digital intrusions and physical targeting. This marks a significant departure from previous years, when security professionals viewed cyber and kinetic attacks as largely separate threats, often addressing them in isolation.
What Is Cyber-Enabled Kinetic Targeting?
Cyber-enabled kinetic targeting involves leveraging cyber intrusions to support or enhance physical attacks, often using real-time data extracted from compromised systems. Amazon provided recent examples, pointing to activity from MuddyWater—a group associated with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security—that accessed live CCTV feeds in Jerusalem. Such access, Amazon reports, allowed rapid and precise targeting during missile attacks in June, demonstrating how digital breaches can inform active, real-world operations.
How Do Security Experts Advise Organizations to Respond?
Steve Schmidt, Amazon’s chief security officer, called for a fundamental revision in the way institutions perceive and counter these blended threats.
“Physical and digital security cannot be treated as separate domains with separate domains and approaches,”
explained Schmidt. He indicated that both vital infrastructure operators and intelligence teams should work to understand how digital vulnerabilities could act as a direct support for kinetic actions. Integrated defenses and information sharing between the public and private sectors are now seen as crucial steps.
Will More Actors Adopt These Attack Tactics?
According to Amazon executives, cyber-enabled kinetic targeting is likely to become more widespread, particularly among nation-states that can combine advanced cyber tools with military assets. CJ Moses, chief information security officer at Amazon Integrated Security, noted:
“Nation-state actors are recognizing the force multiplier effect of combining digital reconnaissance with physical attacks.”
Specialized targeting, such as attacks on maritime navigation or real-time CCTV feeds, requires distinct technical expertise, suggesting a more specialized threat environment going forward.
Security experts and industry analysts now recommend that organizations consider the dual use of their systems, recognizing that even seemingly mundane technology can hold strategic value in military contexts. As intelligence sharing becomes more critical, organizations will benefit from investing in coordinated frameworks that address complex attack scenarios. The shift toward integrated cyber-kinetic threat management necessitates adaptability, broader security training, and a culture of collaboration across sectors. Stakeholders are encouraged to routinely assess their risk landscapes, update their defenses in accordance with evolving tactics, and participate more actively in intelligence exchange networks. Understanding how digital access can translate to real-world vulnerabilities will help security teams prevent exploited systems from becoming unwitting aids to kinetic operations.
