Protecting America\u2019s cybersecurity demands showing our teeth | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Deterring U.S. adversaries from attacking American infrastructure requires making clear that the United States can strike back in kind. \"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyber-deterrence-russia-china\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protecting America\u2019s cybersecurity demands showing our teeth\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Deterring U.S. adversaries from attacking American infrastructure requires making clear that the United States can strike back in kind. \"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyber-deterrence-russia-china\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-06-26T11:00:00+00:00\"> <meta 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content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"post-template-default single single-post postid-80802 single-format-standard\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyber-deterrence-russia-china\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"24.40099009901\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"28.848484848485\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/news\/commentary\/\"> <span>Commentary<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Deterring U.S. adversaries from attacking American infrastructure requires making clear that the United States can strike back in kind. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=1536,1022 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=1014,675 1014w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth-1.jpg?resize=1266,843 1266w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1014px) 100vw, 1014px\"><figcaption> A sign for the National Security Agency, U.S Cyber Command and Central Security Service, is seen near the visitor’s entrance to the headquarters of the National Security Agency on February 14, 2018. (Photo by SAUL LOEB\/AFP via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"53.015596988168\"><body readability=\"108.38436062557\"><\/p>\n<p>A poisoned Potomac River flowing through Washington, D.C. Drones crashing into public buildings. Railways being weaponized. When the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/tag\/cyberspace-solarium-commission\/\">Cyberspace Solarium Commission<\/a> released <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solarium.gov\/report\">our initial recommendations<\/a> in March 2020, we listed these fictional dangers to our nation\u2019s grid and infrastructure from a cyberattack.<\/p>\n<p>Four years later, we\u2019ve averted those specific fictions from becoming reality, but our nation remains far too vulnerable to adversaries <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feds-chinese-hacking-operations-have-been-in-critical-infrastructure-networks-for-five-years\/\">hacking our most critical infrastructure<\/a>. Although our global foes have so far only compromised our country\u2019s communication, energy, health care, transportation and <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/pennsylvania-water-facility-hack-iran\/\">water sectors<\/a> on smaller, local scales, a larger attack may be looming.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside our fellow commissioners, we have long decried the escalation of cyber hostilities on our free markets, on our system of governance, and on our health and welfare. We have not been shy in calling this threat existential. It\u2019s well past time for us to boost our nation\u2019s cybersecurity \u2014 both from a defensive position, but also with a visible, muscular deterrence. <\/p>\n<p>Where do we go from here? Certainly, we need more defense. The U.S. government must fill the thousands of open cybersecurity billets and modernize vulnerable legacy computer systems. The companies that build and maintain the software and hardware that power our economy <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/biden-national-cybersecurity-strategy-2023\/\">must be obligated to ensure the security of their creations<\/a>. At the individual level, we must do what we can to safeguard our digital security.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Stronger cybersecurity alone, however, cannot ensure our safety. We are being attacked; we will continue to be attacked; some of those attacks will be successful; successful attacks will inflict physical and economic hardship on the American people. <\/p>\n<p>As a country, we must prepare and practice responding, recovering and reconstituting, if and when we are struck. This is why we supported the successful inclusion of Section 1517 in last year\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/118\/plaws\/publ31\/PLAW-118publ31.pdf\">National Defense Authorization Act <\/a>that tests the cyber resiliency and reconstitution of critical infrastructure that supports military installations. In the event of an overseas conflict, the adversary <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/china-critical-infrastructure-volt-typhoon\/\">would likely attack<\/a> the electricity, water and telecommunications surrounding U.S. military bases. Once those critical services are brought down, the military would have a hard time deploying to even get into the fight.<\/p>\n<p>Further downstream, we need to show that our citizens won\u2019t give in to extortion from bad actors \u2014 be they individuals or nation-states. That means we \u2014 you, me, and our neighbor down the street \u2014 need to be prepared for an attack on our critical infrastructure. We support civilian preparedness training and other measures so that Americans are equipped for whatever foes hit us with.<\/p>\n<p>But we are living in a fantasy if we think that we can protect ourselves and our country through defensive actions alone.<\/p>\n<p>We must face up to the hard truth that we must embark on a radically different way to deal with adversaries within cyberspace. If we want Beijing or Moscow or Tehran to stop building their weapons into our infrastructure, we can\u2019t rely on asking nicely. Rather than more words, we must show the world that continuing to mine our water and power systems will yield a painful response. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In other words, we need our cyber warfighters to emerge from the shadows and bare their teeth. Because the essence of deterrence is ensuring the adversary is scared. And they only become scared if they believe that we have both the capability and will to hold them in harm\u2019s way as they now hold us.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, neither the Chinese Communist Party nor the Russian military seem filled with existential dread that their own critical infrastructure might be compromised. In fact, they may not care at all if their populations are put in peril as long as the elites are secure. We need to think broadly and boldly about making the world aware of our capability to do serious damage if we are attacked.<\/p>\n<p>It won\u2019t be easy showcasing this offensive cyber capability. We may need a good bit of \u201cstrategic declassification\u201d of our offensive cyber capabilities. We may need to take more public credit for offensive operations that our incredible government cyber defenders are currently doing around the world. Smarter people than us will have to figure out how to make our cyber deterrence not only visible but palpable.<\/p>\n<p>Deterrence is about making sure your adversary is afraid of what you might do to them. It must be scary for them. And, to be honest, it will be scary for us, as we contemplate the risk that our effort to deter will lead to escalation. But signaling that we will avoid conflict at all costs will never inspire fear from our adversaries. Russia, China, Iran and others have demonstrated they can strangle our economic and security lifelines.<\/p>\n<p>It is past time we demonstrated that we are ready, willing, and able to return the favor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee as well as the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He served as the co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which has seen over 80 of its cybersecurity recommendations enacted into law.<\/em><br \/><em>Samantha F. Ravich, Ph.D., was a commissioner on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. She is also the chair of the Center for Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Geopolitics<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyber-deterrence-russia-china\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protecting America\u2019s cybersecurity demands showing our teeth | CyberScoop Skip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[271,280,452,594,281,513,270,2254],"tags":[277,284,454,596,285,517,276,2255],"class_list":["post-4186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-china","category-commentary","category-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa","category-cyberspace-solarium-commission","category-hacking","category-iran","category-russia","category-sen-angus-king","tag-china","tag-commentary","tag-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa","tag-cyberspace-solarium-commission","tag-hacking","tag-iran","tag-russia","tag-sen-angus-king"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/china\/\" rel=\"category tag\">China<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/commentary\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Commentary<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cyberspace-solarium-commission\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cyberspace Solarium Commission<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/hacking\/\" rel=\"category tag\">hacking<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/iran\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Iran<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/russia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Russia<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/sen-angus-king\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Sen. 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{"id":4186,"date":"2024-06-26T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=80802"},"modified":"2024-06-26T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T11:00:00","slug":"protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2024\/06\/26\/protecting-americas-cybersecurity-demands-showing-our-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting America\u2019s cybersecurity demands showing our teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"