1

Cyberespionage

Student’s Name

Department, College/University

Course Number and Name

Instructor’s Name

Assignment Due Date

 2

Cyberespionage

Unauthorized access to computer networks or systems with the intent to steal confidential

information, business secrets, or intellectual property is referred to as cyber espionage. Both

people and companies are more at risk, especially as the globe grows more digitally connected.

Cyber espionage cases have been widely reported in recent years all across the world. This essay

will examine a recent instance of cyber espionage and the measures the targeted nation took to

resolve the problem. It will also look at how espionage is becoming more crucial to handle and

control as a result of new cyber capabilities.

Assault on Cyberespionage by SolarWinds the SolarWinds assault is among the most

important cyber espionage incidents in recent memory. The hacker operation, known as APT29

or Cozy Bear, was identified as the source of the attack in December 2020 (BBC News, 2020).

Malware was subsequently distributed to SolarWinds' customers after SolarWinds, a top

provider of IT management software, was compromised in the hack. The infection gave the

attackers access to the client networks and let them steal sensitive data from there.

Numerous prominent institutions were impacted by the attack, including major US

federal departments such the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the

Department of Homeland Security (Dunn, 2020). Many private businesses were also impacted by

the hack, including Microsoft, Cisco, and Deloitte.

The US government responded to the SolarWinds hack in a number of different ways.

The US government took a number of steps to lessen the effects of the attack and stop similar

ones in the future. First, the US government established a task team to look into the incident and

determine how much damage was done. The task team was in charge of coming up with a plan to

lessen the harm and stop further assaults.

 3

Also, the US government issued an executive order mandating adoption and adherence to

a set of cybersecurity guidelines by federal institutions. In order to safeguard federal networks,

the executive order required the implementation of multi-factor authentication, encryption, and

other security measures (Mackenzie, 2021). A zero-trust security paradigm, in which all access

attempts are validated before giving access to the network, was also to be implemented by

government agencies, according to the executive order.

The US government responded to the attack by imposing penalties on Russia in addition

to the presidential order. Six Russian technology businesses and two Russian intelligence

agencies were the targets of the sanctions (Melnick, 2021). Ten Russian diplomats were also

removed from the US by the US administration.

How Important Cyber Espionage Is The SolarWinds assault highlights how important

cyber espionage is becoming as a danger to national security. Although cyber espionage is not a

recent phenomenon, the size and complexity of recent attacks have brought attention to the need

for more regulation and vigilance. The greater reliance on technology in many spheres of life has

contributed to the growing relevance of cybersecurity (Menn, 2021). The threat of cyber

espionage grows as more and more data is stored and transmitted electronically.

Moreover, espionage is becoming increasingly necessary to confront and regulate due to

increased cyber capabilities. The variety and scale of cyber espionage assaults are increasing due

to the usage of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

With the use of these technologies, attackers may gather and examine massive volumes of data

that can be exploited for espionage (Smith, 2021). IoT devices, for instance, can be compromised

and used to spy on people or organizations, and AI can be applied to data analysis and network

vulnerability detection.
 4

Social media and the internet are being used more often, which has also made it simpler

for hackers to carry out cyber espionage. Social media can be used by attackers to learn details

about people and organizations, such as their relationships, activities, and interests. Then, to

access sensitive data, this information can be utilized to execute targeted assaults or social

engineering efforts.

The SolarWinds hack is an obvious illustration of the possible effects of cyber espionage,

which is an increasing concern to national security. The hack exposed several private and public

US government entities, emphasizing the need for stronger cybersecurity oversight and

legislation (Stevens, 2021). In response to the SolarWinds attack, the US government took a

number of actions, including the formation of a task force, the issuance of an executive order

requiring higher cybersecurity standards, and penalties against Russia.

Also, it is becoming increasingly crucial to manage and control espionage because to the

increasing usage of emerging cyber capabilities like AI, machine learning, and IoT. With the use

of these technologies, attackers may more easily obtain and analyze enormous amounts of data,

broadening the breadth and extent of cyber espionage assaults (U.S. Department of Justice,

2021). Furthermore, the growing popularity of social media and the internet makes it simpler for

attackers to engage in cyber espionage.

These developments make it very evident that governments and organizations all across

the world must give cybersecurity top priority. The hazards and concerns related to cyber

espionage will increase as technology develops and becomes more sophisticated. Hence, more

oversight and caution are required to stop and lessen cyber espionage attempts. Organizations

and governments may safeguard themselves against these risks and stop such breaches by putting

in place strong cybersecurity measures.

 5

References

Dunn, J. (2020, December 15). What is the SolarWinds hack, and why is it so dangerous?

Retrieved from https://www.techradar.com/news/what-is-the-solarwinds-hack-and-why-

is-it-so-dangerous

BBC News. (2020, December 19). SolarWinds hack: Who’s been affected? Retrieved from

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55320018

U.S. Department of Justice. (2021, January 22). Russian National Charged with Conspiracy to

Introduce Malware into a U.S. Company’s Computer Network. Retrieved from

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-charged-conspiracy-introduce-malware-

us-company-s-computer-network

Menn, J. (2021, February 17). Analysis: SolarWinds cyberattack is a wakeup call for supply

chain security. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-cyber-

solarwinds-analysis/analysis-solarwinds-cyberattack-is-a-wakeup-call-for-supply-chain-

security-idUSKBN2AI2K2

Melnick, J. (2021, February 25). The SolarWinds Attack: Understanding Cyber Espionage in the

Digital Age. The Cipher Brief. Retrieved from

https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column/cyber-espionage/solarwinds-attack-

understanding-cyber-espionage-digital-age

Stevens, T. (2021, March 16). The SolarWinds hack: A timeline. CNBC. Retrieved from

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/16/the-solarwinds-hack-a-timeline.html

Mackenzie, L. (2021, April 15). SolarWinds cyber attack: US sanctions Russia over hacking.

BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56763903

 6

Smith, B. (2021, June 28). SolarWinds hack: 24 state attorneys general sign letter in support of

federal investigation. NBC News. Retrieved from

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/solarwinds-hack-24-state-attorneys-

general-sign-letter-support-federal-n1272396