Connecting “Cyber Diplomacy” to “Cyber Deterrence” (James Siebens, Allison Pytlak – Stimson Center)

The scale of cyber operations today has reached unprecedented levels, with state-sponsored actors, criminal syndicates, and independent hackers launching increasingly sophisticated attacks against critical infrastructure, financial systems, and government networks worldwide. These operations can compromise sensitive data affecting millions of individuals, disrupt essential services, and even potentially manipulate democratic processes or disable military capabilities. A strong deterrent response has become necessary because traditional defensive measures alone are insufficient against persistent and evolving threats.

Connecting “Cyber Diplomacy” to “Cyber Deterrence” • Stimson Center