The View from Washington: The State of Cybersecurity

Avril Haines, former Deputy National Security Advisor under Obama administration, discussed cyber threats and their role in military operations during a summit on September 14, 2017. She highlighted the concept of "asymmetric threats" where state actors with high-value assets can hold others at risk without any threat to themselves. Haines emphasized the importance of widely accepted norms and rules for cyber activities and stressed that the private sector plays a crucial role in creating such a framework. Haines also touched upon the challenges posed by the lack of clear definitions and governance structures in the realm of cyber warfare, as well as the increasing influence of non-state actors in virtual communities. She predicted that cyber threats would become more tangible and could eventually lead to military responses if not addressed appropriately. In terms of future challenges, Haines mentioned the difficulty of maintaining secrecy in intelligence operations due to the digital footprint everyone leaves behind. She also expressed concern about the eroding faith people have in government and the need for a public conversation on the balance between privacy and security.