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Hacked at the Frontlines: Enhancing Cybersecurity for the Defense Industry

Feb 24, 2026 Digital & Product Solutions / Digital Trust / Cyber Security
Digital transformation is revolutionizing the Defense Industry, driving innovation through AI, cloud computing , autonomous systems, and interconnected platforms. These technologies enhance operational efficiency, decision-making, and battlefield awareness, but they also expand the attack surface for cyber threats.
Cybersecurity for the Defense Industry has become a strategic imperative, safeguarding national security, critical assets, and mission continuity. As threats grow more sophisticated, so does the response: according to Forbes, global military cybersecurity spending reached $36.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to rise to $49.4 billion by 2028. This surge reflects a growing recognition that cyber resilience is essential to modern Defense capabilities.

Top Cybersecurity Threats Targeting the Defense Industry

The Defense Sector faces a dynamic landscape of cyber threats. As technology evolves, techniques to access sensitive information, disrupt strategic operations, and seek to gain geopolitical positions are adopted. In this context, the most common cyber-attacks in this space include:

Most Common Attacks:

Ransomware Attacks:
Capable of paralyzing Defense operations and compromising mission readiness. These attacks not only demand financial ransoms but can also serve as smokescreens for deeper infiltration.
Insider Threats (Whether Malicious or Negligent):
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities:
To counter these threats, the Defense Industry must adopt a proactive, layered cybersecurity strategy that includes threat intelligence, zero-trust architecture, and rigorous vetting of personnel and partners.

Who Certifies Trust? Cybersecurity Frameworks for the Defense Industry

Now that the Internet of Things (IoT) has been adopted and adapted by the Defense Sector into the Internet of Military Things (IoMT), testing and certifying the security and resilience of these systems becomes essential. DEKRA, as an independent third-party organisation, provides comprehensive testing and certification services aligned with industry-leading standards and frameworks:
  • Common Criteria: this certification framework evaluates the cybersecurity of IT products. For IoMT devices, reliability is a top priority, especially in environments with limited resources, where both performance and resilience are critical.
  • ISA / IEC 62443: originally developed for industrial cybersecurity systems , this standard has been effectively applied to the military area, focusing on risk reduction through robust security measures throughout the complete system lifecycle.

What is Next? Trends & Challenges Ahead

The Defense Industry is shifting from reactive security to proactive cyber resilience. Operational readiness now depends on systems that can anticipate, withstand, and recover from attacks effectively.
DEKRA is a global organization ensuring Digital Trust by combining global expertise in Cybersecurity, AI, and Functional Safety, which supports our Defense customers to build rigorous and certifiable security frameworks and be future-ready.
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