Framing the Cyberthreat through the Terror-Ballistics Analogy

Cyberthreats are a new and developing, complex phenomenon. A central way for decision makers to cope with this difficulty is through analogies as simplifying psychological constructs. One analogy that could be used is terrorism and specifically the terrorballistics experience in Israel. Building on this analogy, three main takeaways are suggested. The first takeaway is that key assumptions on the cybersecurity future should be revisited. The second one is the possibility of adapting the “six Ds” counterterror framework— Defense, Detection, Deterrence, Defeat, Deny, and Diplomacy—to the cyberworld. The third takeaway from this analogy is on the organizational level, highlighting the need to create new flexible operational configurations as well as international collaborative structures.