In the era of interconnectivity, conflict between nations is no longer limited to physical battlefields. According to Palo Alto Networks, the world is now immersed in a true cold War cybernetics — an invisible but permanent confrontation, where nation states resort to digital attacks with the aim of destabilizing economies, sabotaging infrastructures and gaining geostrategic advantages.
The difference with the past lies in the fact that nuclear deterrence once maintained the balance of power, and today we live under a continuous threat, of low visibility but with increasing impact. Attacks are no longer limited to obtaining intelligence: they are designed to cause concrete disruptions in vital sectors.
The new face of digital conflict
The protagonists of this conflict are well known — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea continue to lead the list of actors with advanced cyber capabilities. However, the way they operate has evolved. Palo Alto Networks, for example, documents operations by groups linked to North Korea that pose as recruiters for technology companies. After simulating credible recruitment processes, they trick candidates into installing malware disguised as development tools.
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Even more worrying is the growing alliance between states and cybercriminal groups. This covert collaboration, based on the sharing of techniques, resources and platforms, makes it extremely difficult to identify the perpetrators of attacks and respond effectively. The result is an increasingly opaque and sophisticated digital battlefield.
All organizations are in the firing line
Contrary to popular perception, the risk is not limited to companies with strategic assets. What is really at stake is the attack surface — and it is growing every day. Digital transformation, remote working, cloud migration and the proliferation of IoT devices expose all organizations, regardless of their size or sector.
Today, a simple laptop or even a smart thermostat can be the entry point for a wide-ranging attack. And with the increasing use of artificial intelligence, cybercriminals are creating targeted campaigns Phishing almost indistinguishable from legitimate communication, testing even the most attentive employees.
Prepare for the inevitable: five concrete steps
Faced with this scenario, Palo Alto Networks and its intelligence unit, Unit 42, highlight five fundamental strategies for organizations to face the reality of a conflicted digital world:
- Integrating geopolitical risk into business continuity: Organizations operating across borders need to anticipate transnational threats and adapt to the regulatory requirements that arise from them.
- Adopt identity-based and AI-based security: Traditional perimeter defense is no longer sufficient. It is crucial to identify anomalous behavior at its source, using platforms with artificial intelligence.
- Investing in a global cloud security approach: Criminals do not respect technical or legal boundaries. Any flaw, no matter how small, will be exploited.
- Turning threat intelligence into action: Information alone is not enough. It needs to be translated into operational and strategic decisions, from security operations centers to boards of directors.
- Redefining the role of technology leaders: The CIO and CISO are no longer just technicians. They are organizational resilience strategists, responsible for preparing the company for systemic risk of cyber origin.
A cyber security is no longer an exclusively technical issue. It is a question of organizational survival, economic stability and even national security.
Cyberwar is not an announcement. It has already begun. And ignoring it is, in itself, a vulnerability.
