In an era of heightened geopolitical competition, state-sponsored cyber actors are actively pre-positioning themselves within United States critical infrastructure networks to secure strategic leverage during potential conflicts. This shift from espionage to potential disruption demands a fundamental evolution in national homeland defense. The Federal Government and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) must adopt a strict, consequence-driven approach to risk management. Resources must be rigorously prioritized toward infrastructure whose disruption or failure would imperil national security, public safety, military readiness, and economic continuity. This approach requires identifying critical dependencies, focusing risk-reduction investments, and measuring success through operational outcomes rather than activity metrics. Drawing on recent national policy guidance and CISA initiatives, including CI Fortify, the author outlines key principles for prioritization, continuity planning, interagency coordination, and outcome-based risk management. Ultimately, it calls for a disciplined national effort to ensure that the infrastructure Americans depend upon can continue functioning when adversaries seek to disrupt it, thereby strengthening homeland defense and preserving public trust.
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doi.org/10.55682/cdr/b7r8-51sw
The Cyber Defense Review
Volume 11, Issue 2