From the International Conference on Cyber Conflict

The author argues that cyber warfare is already a reality and fundamentally asymmetric, leaving defenders—particularly nations like South Africa—unable to fully protect themselves across vast, interconnected systems. Citing Stuxnet, Wikileaks, and HBGary to illustrate the imbalance, the piece contends that even larger nations face similar constraints and outlines two strategic paths: embrace cyber neutrality and information openness, or pursue an arms race culminating in deterrence akin to Mutually Assured Destruction. The author urges timely policy engagement to avoid an inevitable militarization of cyberspace.