Imminent National Cyber Strategy May Lean on Offense at the Expense of Defense

The Trump administration’s National Cyber Strategy is imminent. Will it, as rumors suggest, prioritize cyber offense over defense in order to shape adversary behavior? In a new Claroty Nexus op-ed, IST Chief Strategy Officer Megan Stifel breaks down the history of U.S. cyber strategy and the potential drawbacks of an offense-first approach.

The Trump Administration’s National Cyber Strategy is imminent. While many of its anticipated themes have been woven through prior strategies spanning the previous five administrations, reports suggest a decidedly new shift that would prioritize cyber offense in order to shape adversary behavior and relegate cyber defense to the back burner. If implemented, this is a shift that threatens to compromise our national security. 

The new strategy’s priorities have been signaled for months:

  • Shaping adversary behavior

  • Promoting common sense regulations

  • Modernizing federal networks

  • Securing critical infrastructure

  • Sustaining technology superiority

  • Growing the cyber talent pool 

These priorities are not novel. However, the prioritization of offensive capabilities over reinforcing our defensive capabilities would be a new path.

Related Content

MENU

GET IN TOUCH

Email: [email protected]
Send us a message: Contact

JOIN THE CATALINK MAILING LIST