Network Take: Steps Toward a Deterrence Strategy in Cyberspace

With a barrage of attacks regularly hammering the private sector and nearly every U.S. federal agency, there is a strong need for government policies within an overarching cyber deterrence strategy. The impacts of network intrusions go well beyond the immediate loss of data, but ripple into malicious influence over public opinion, undermine global economic competitiveness, or even dull military supremacy.

Furthermore, the cyber domain is evolving, and threats are increasing in scope and disruptive capacity. Lieutenant General James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence and Cipher Brief expert told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on cyber policy, strategy, and organization, Thursday that, “In the past we have taken some comfort in that the entities that could do us the most harm – meaning Russia and China – probably have lesser intent. While the entities that have more intent – hacktivists, criminals, and terrorists – have less of a capability.” The problem, according to Clapper, is that the “gap between the two is closing” and there is an “insidious increase” in cyber activity against the United States.