Do you think defending forward is the right strategy in dealing with Iran? Why?

https://carnegie-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/files/Iran_Cyber_Final_Full_v2.pdf

I think that defending forward is an effective strategy for dealing with Iran’s cyber-attacks. Targeting the root of the cyber-attacks before sufficient damage can occur, can deter groups from trying those attacks again and prevent damage to societal aspects like critical infrastructure. The constant attacking also hinders the time to come up with new strategies, further weakening the opposing side. Defending forward can also be effective by cutting down on attacks stemming from Iran’s and associated offensive cyber operation entities like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Cyber Defense Command, the Basij Cyber Council, and the Iranian Cyber Army. Furthermore, Iran has been significantly improving their cyber-attacks against not only the United States but also other countries in only fifteen years. With the removal of their sanctions due to the new nuclear deal, it is an even more pressing matter that strategies like defending forward are enforced to prevent cyber-attack damage from growing even larger if Iran continues to act upon them.

However, while defending forward can be a good strategy for Iran, it’s not fool-proof. Considering how Iran is known for retaliating against the many cyber-attacks they have been hit with, attacking them again may either not do much to deter them or possibly escalate attacks with their ability to now amass more resources. Therefore, the addition of actions such as improving defenses on our end and giving more power to the organizations within Iran that are against the government’s censorship and use of the Internet can be an extra addition to the strategy that can go a significant way in mitigating Iran’s opportunity for cyber-attacks.

In conclusion, defending forward is a reasonable strategy for dealing with Iran for several reasons. With an emphasis on mitigating threats as quickly as possible, it immediately reduces the capability of cyber-attacks and prevents Iran’s prominent offensive cyber operation-focused entities from being able to come up with new strategies in time due to the strategy being constant. Furthermore, the strategy has more utility now due to Iran’s capabilities for stronger attacks increasing. Still, the addition of stronger cyber defenses and the reduction of Iran’s censorship via supporting small organizations can create a more solid groundwork for the strategy to be effective as a whole.