The Evolution of US Defense Strategy in Cyberspace (1988 – 2019)

This trend analysis provides a historical overview of the evolutionary path US cyber defense strategy has taken since 1988. Largely, the analysis utilizes a deterrence-focused approach, rather than one driven by the intelligence community, legal sentiments, or private sector concerns. As such, it primarily looks at cyber-related events relevant to strategic developments within the US Department of Defense (DoD). Section one explains the DoD’s evolution in cyberspace between 1988 and 2008, which was almost exclusively focused on experimentation and adaptation after every incident that hit DoD networks. Section two dives into the policy discrepancies and emerging internal conflicts during the Obama administration on offensive capabilities and cyber deterrence mechanisms. Section three then explores the changes during the first three years of the Trump administration and the introduction of persistent engagement. Section four highlights issues that currently remain unresolved, and section five provides a summary conclusion and several lessons learned.