On a near-daily basis, the news media informs the public of the latest company to succumb to the onslaught of a cyberattack and having its sensitive data records breached. Although considerable research has been conducted to improve cybersecurity from the perspective of bolstering defenses as one would do to fortify castles in the Middle Ages, this report analyzes whether or not a strategy of deterrence can be employed to bolster cyber defense. Drawing heavily from the defensive paradigm that resulted from the nuclear deterrence strategy of the 20th Century, this paper investigates how the US can achieve a more long-term equilibrium solution for cyberspace through a number of key principles inherent within deterrence. In doing so, this paper posits that cyber deterrence can be an effective strategy for US defense in the 21st Century. By employing a systems thinking approach to this complex problem, this research argues that there are 3 key attributes that help create effective cyber deterrence: improving international partnerships, diversifying both cyber and non-cyber weapons capabilities, and promoting the correct international narrative on cyber violations. This research finds that an effective cyber deterrence bolsters cybersecurity by dis-incentivizing threats and adversaries from perpetrating cyberattacks.
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