Cyberwarfare: What It Is and Why It Matters

As our lives are increasingly carried out online, conflict has shifted into the digital sphere. Advanced technologies have opened the door to new strategies for achieving political or economic objectives once pursued via traditional warfare. These sophisticated digital attacks may appear to limit the risks associated with open combat, but they remain devastating, nonetheless.  

The rise of cyberwarfare, however, has paved the way for digital attacks to be launched from any location imaginable. These modern attacks are capable of inflicting massive damage in ways that are difficult to predict. But what is cyberwarfare, exactly?  
 

What Is Cyberwarfare? 

RAND defines cyberwarfare as the "actions by a nation-state or international organization to attack and attempt to damage another nation's computers or information networks." The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) adds that these acts "compromise and disrupt critical infrastructure systems" and may even amount to an armed attack in their ability to spark widespread devastation. 

Cyberwarfare is becoming the new normal in our modern geopolitical landscape, with an increasing share of nations and non-state actors relying on dangerous digital tools to pursue their various objectives. This could unleash unprecedented chaos that extends to the supply chain and the global economy. 
 

Goals of Cyberwarfare 

Cyberwarfare holds a fundamental goal of undermining an adversary's digital infrastructure to advance strategic interests. Specific objectives can vary but they frequently involve the following: 

• Acquire sensitive information. Through digital espionage, states or groups may seek to illegitimately obtain classified or sensitive data. This, in turn, may provide in-depth insights into military plans or economic strategies, even allowing attackers to influence negotiations. Over time, this can erode trust and lead to diplomatic tension. 

• Disrupt infrastructure. Many attackers seek to compromise the systems on which their adversaries depend in order to function optimally. This could include everything from power grids to financial institutions. These compromises can sow chaos even more effectively than the traditional battlefield. 

• Impair military capabilities. Though cyberwarfare is often described in contrast to traditional attacks, considerable crossover can emerge; this is often referred to as cross-domain attacks, which coerce an adversary in a different domain. For example, attackers may use digital means to compromise defense operations, sabotaging surveillance systems to create confusion or blind forces. 

The goals of cyberwarfare can also be described in contrast to conventional warfare: Through cyberattacks, nation-states seek to cause damage without opening themselves up to the heightened risks associated with traditional battles. Compared to conventional attacks, for instance, cyber-focused alternatives may call for fewer resources or be executed in a covert manner that allows for plausible deniability. 
 

Types of Cyberwarfare 

Cyberwarfare takes various forms, and while certain nation-states or groups may be more inclined to employ specific strategies, a layered approach is common. This could embody numerous devastating techniques that are exponentially more harmful when carried out in tandem. Noteworthy examples include: 

• Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: These attacks flood a targeted server, network, or website with overwhelming amounts of traffic, rendering systems slow or completely unusable. They can temporarily paralyze government agencies, financial institutions, or communication platforms, making them a favorite tactic for both state and non-state actors aiming to create disruption at low cost. 

• Espionage: Cyber espionage uses digital infiltration to steal sensitive political, military, or economic information. Nation-states or independent groups may hack government agencies, corporations, or defense contractors to gain strategic advantages. Because these operations are often covert, victims may be unaware for months or years that critical data has been compromised. 

• Sabotage and Infrastructure Destabilization: Sabotage often targets the physical and digital backbone of a nation, including power grids, transportation networks, or water treatment facilities. The goal is to weaken trust in government protection, cause economic strain, or even endanger lives. Examples include cyber operations in Ukraine that led to power outages, highlighting how digital sabotage can mirror the devastation of traditional warfare. 

• Propaganda and Disinformation: Beyond physical damage, cyberwarfare is also waged in the information space. Digital propaganda campaigns spread false or misleading narratives, often through social media, to manipulate public opinion or erode trust in institutions. These efforts can influence elections, destabilize democratic processes, and deepen social divides without a single line of code disrupting physical infrastructure. 

• Economic Disruption: By targeting banks, stock markets, or trade systems, cyberwarfare can inflict widespread financial harm. Ransomware attacks may demand massive payments, while more complex operations can destabilize currencies or supply chains. Economic disruption is especially damaging because it undermines public confidence and can ripple globally in today’s interconnected markets. 

• Surprise Cyberattacks: These sudden, large-scale digital strikes are designed to catch governments or organizations off guard, often coordinated with other forms of conflict. A surprise attack might take the form of simultaneous strikes on communications, infrastructure, and financial systems, overwhelming defenses and creating chaos at critical moments. Their unpredictability makes them one of the most feared aspects of cyberwarfare. 
   

Motivations for Cyberwarfare 

The motivations underscoring cyberwarfare vary widely from one nation or group to the next. Some groups may draw from numerous sources of motivation, which can overlap in unexpected ways and contribute to the overall disorder and unpredictability of contemporary digital battlefields. Many headline-hitting attacks can be traced to these concerns: 

• Hacktivism: Politically motivated hacking that is meant to raise awareness, challenge censorship, or pressure governments. Groups like Anonymous have disrupted government operations to protest corruption and policy decisions. 

• Terrorism: Terrorist groups can use digital tools to spread fear, chaos, and intimidation, often mirroring traditional terrorism. Groups such as ISIS have carried out attacks that amplify fear and destabilization. 

• Financial Gain: Criminal networks driven by financial gain, including ransomware, phishing, and banking system breaches. When these attacks are state-sponsored or tied to national security threats, the distinction with cyberwarfare becomes blurred. 

• Political Conflict: State or state-backed cyber operations aimed at disrupting elections, spreading disinformation, or complementing traditional warfare.   

Preventing and Combating Cyberwarfare 

The covert nature of cybercrime makes it inherently difficult to combat. That being said, various sophisticated strategies are available for preventing or mitigating cyberattacks. These solutions can be pursued on several fronts, enacted by not only government agencies but also businesses and individuals. 
 

Government Strategies 

Government agencies are committed to developing robust cyberdefense frameworks and strategies that harden critical infrastructure to limit the potential for disruption. This effort may involve intrusion detection and prevention, and government agencies now leverage artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools to analyze potential threats in real time. Intelligence agencies support this effort by monitoring cyber threats, while proactive operations hold the potential to disable opponents before they have the chance to attack.
 

Corporate Strategies 

State-sponsored organizations have frequently attacked major corporations, fueling devastating ripple effects that can cause widespread damage to the supply chain while compromising critical assets. Businesses can take similar steps to those outlined above by conducting vulnerability assessments or using AI-driven solutions to identify potential breaches as early as possible. These multi-layered solutions should be accompanied by in-depth employee training, ensuring that workers at all levels handle data securely and are also aware of key threats (such as potential phishing attacks). 
 

Individual Strategies 

Everyday individuals may be deeply affected by cyberwarfare, but they are by no means powerless. There are many methods to safeguard personal information and resources while working collectively to limit the impact of cyberattacks. This begins with simple yet impactful strategies for securing sensitive information, like:  

• Regular data backups 

• Using complex passwords and multi-factor authentication 

• Security patches (system updates that address vulnerabilities) 
   

AI Advancements in Cyberwarfare 

Cyberwarfare has experienced drastic changes in recent years. While new technologies allow for more sophisticated defense strategies, they introduce new threats as well. Artificial intelligence represents a major source of risk — enabling threat actors to bypass once-effective cybersecurity safeguards. AI-enhanced phishing, for example, can contribute to increasingly convincing attacks that may involve deepfakes. Meanwhile, AI-assisted vulnerability discovery makes it easier for threat actors to pinpoint zero-day vulnerabilities.  

Fortunately, AI also represents a solution. Corporate cybersecurity teams and government agencies alike are already using AI to detect threats that would have previously been missed. These systems can help reveal potential attack vectors and automate time-consuming security tasks, too, thereby allowing cybersecurity experts to focus on complex strategies. In this rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, innovation represents the key to overcoming sophisticated attacks. 
 

Explore Your Opportunities in International Security with Georgia Tech 

Prepare for the new normal in foreign policy and national defense by pursuing your Master of Science in International Security with Georgia Tech. Available online, this program can be complemented by our cybersecurity training opportunities, including the Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Certificate, and short courses. Reach out today to learn more about our degree and certificate programs.