Proactive Defense: How Cyber Operations Are Changing the Game

The way wars are fought is no longer just about tanks and troops. It’s now happening in the digital space—on networks, in data flows, and behind the scenes of digital systems. Cybersecurity isn’t just about patching holes after an attack anymore. Today’s teams are shifting to a model where they don’t wait to be hit. Instead, they look ahead, design actions that interfere with an attacker’s plans before they even start, and build obstacles that make hostile moves harder, riskier, and less effective. This requires real-time intelligence, deep insight into how adversaries think and operate, and a clear understanding of where and how they move through systems. The U.S. military’s recent actions show this shift clearly. Rather than just reacting to breaches, forces are now actively working to block an opponent’s ability to carry out their objectives—without escalating to open conflict. It’s about making it harder for someone to act, not about destroying or attacking back.

This new approach relies on creating friction—small but meaningful disruptions that slow down an adversary’s efforts. It doesn’t require a full-scale attack. Instead, it’s about making it costlier and more complicated to carry out operations. In 2018, for example, attacks on Internet Research Agency servers disrupted their ability to spread disinformation online. The impact wasn’t a massive data breach—it was a disruption. That kind of action forces an opponent to waste time, resources, and energy, often at the cost of their own goals. Cyber operations also use signals of strength—not to boast, but to show that a response is possible and likely. The message isn’t just about what you can do, it’s about what you’re willing to do. And in many cases, the real power lies in secrecy. By hiding the source of an action and keeping future responses vague, defenders create uncertainty. That ambiguity makes it harder for an adversary to plan, respond, or even know when they’ve been targeted.

Key Principles of Modern Cyber Defense

• Creating friction: Disrupting an adversary’s operations through targeted, subtle actions that slow their progress without triggering a full response. These disruptions don’t need to be large—they just need to make every move harder and more expensive.
• Demonstrating capability with restraint: Showing the audience that you can act—without showing how or when. This isn’t about flashy attacks. It’s about sending a clear message: if you try something, we’ll know and we’ll respond.
• Operating in the shadows: Using stealth and ambiguity to avoid detection and keep adversaries guessing. The goal isn’t always to win a fight—it’s to make any action feel risky and unprofitable.
• Facing determined opponents: Not all adversaries are deterred by threats alone. Some are willing to take big risks. That means defenders must act consistently and show they’re not just ready to respond—but that they will.

In today’s world, defense isn’t just about reacting. It’s about shaping the rules of engagement—before the first strike happens.