This morning, the AP is reporting that the Biden administration is blaming China for the massive hack of Microsoft’s Exchange server software earlier this year. The administration and allied nations also disclosed a broad range of other cyberthreats from Beijing, including ransomware attacks from government-affiliated hackers (the type of attack usually associated with “Russian hackers”). All of which raises the question: Are we in a cyber war? The short answer is yes, but the two follow-up questions are equally important: With whom? What are we going to do about it?
The administration has called out Russia and China. Now what? If either of these countries bombed a Microsoft facility on American soil, a war would be declared, and we would prepare ourselves for a bloody and expensive conflict. We are being told that we are under attack by nation-state-backed hackers… now what?
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.