Digital Threats and Strategy for Ensuring National Security in the Information Space

Abstract

This paper analyzes the historical dynamics of digital threats. While the focus of attention in the 1990s was on the activities of lone hackers, consumer fraud came to the forefront in the early 2000s. Subsequently, the risk landscape shifted toward large-scale DDoS attacks (2010—2015) and the subsequent dominance of ransomware. This transformation forced government agencies to continually adjust their cybersecurity doctrines, adapting them to current challenges. In the current context, the following key changes in national cybersecurity policy can be identified: in the context of rapid digitalization, data security must take into account the impact of innovations such as quantum technologies, neural networks, and artificial intelligence; there is a fundamental difference between private sector investments in cybersecurity, aimed at minimizing business losses, and government spending aimed at ensuring the country's security in cyberspace; Optimization of existing approaches is required through the development of public policy standards in the area of cybersecurity. An analysis of digital risks and possible responses to them revealed that two fundamental contradictions remain. The first is the lack of standardized metrics for assessing the effectiveness of cybersecurity. The absence of universal criteria makes it impossible to objectively justify the feasibility of investments. The second contradiction lies in the gap between the scale of strategic goals and the insufficient availability of resources. As a result, it becomes virtually impossible to accurately calculate the real cost of protecting infrastructure. In conclusion, possible steps are proposed to ensure the security of the information space, including the safety of critical state assets in the digital environment. This, in turn, can serve as a guarantee of national security.