How Ends, Ways, and Means are Manifested in the Cyber Defense Strategies of Superpowers

Abstract

Cyber Power refers to the capacity to project and promote national interests in and through cyberspace. The military contributes to multiple aspects of cyber power, with cyber warfare capabilities being a central component. Numerous state and non-state actors have come to regard cyber ends, ways and means, as a powerful force multiplier, essential to achieving their objectives. Military cyber actors employ malicious cyber operations to gain asymmetric advantages, targeting critical infrastructure and undermining the opponent’s military superiority in cyberspace. The development of cyber warfare has seen a convergence with other non-kinetic warfare operations. Superpowers adopt distinct approaches to cyber warfare, with varying definitions, strategic objectives, and methods for achieving them. They have also established their own command structures and cyber forces. This paper aims to provide an understanding of how superpowers use cyber capabilities and leverage asymmetric advantages to achieve their strategic objectives. The research material consisted of publicly available documents on national strategic cyber defense plans. Lykke’s framework was applied as a structured approach to review superpowers’ strategic plans by identifying the desired outcomes (Ends), the methods used to achieve them (Ways), and the resources required (Means).