The article raises an interesting point that information warfare is becoming more important as we move into a more digitized age. Nowadays, information warfare can help countries gain advantages in wars that haven’t even begun yet through various means. The article accurately describes that “By weakening trust in national institutions, consensus on national values, and commitment to those values across the international community, an actor can win the next war before it has even begun” (Beskow, 2019). In addition, social cybersecurity focuses more on the humans that operate devices rather than the devices themselves, which is where it differs from traditional cybersecurity. Russian state media has already combined these factors and has seemingly turned its focus away from its own affairs and towards conducting information warfare on an international scale. Valery Gerasimov, a Russian general, even identified information warfare as an important factor pertaining to Russian warfare in a 2013 article (Beskow, 2019). The article also mentions statements from KGB Maj. Gen. Oleg Kalugin describes Russia’s intentions to drive wedges between every possible crack within the United States and Nato. As the article even says, “A fractured nation is inherently a less potent nation in terms of its ability to withstand an attack” (Beskow, 2019). The article also emphasizes a change in the center of gravity in terms of a shift from focusing on the physical aspect to the human aspect of warfare. This is emphasized by events like the Arab Spring, where numerous regimes were overthrown in the Arab World, showing the power of social media and the human ability to organize against governments. Another important shift is the combination of the decentralization of information and the fact that the internet has eliminated the need for physical proximity when influencing the masses (Beskow, 2019). Overall, nations need to put more focus on the importance of cybersecurity, especially its social and human aspects, when concerning themselves with matters of national defense and information warfare. 

Article: https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/Mar-Apr-2019/117-Cybersecurity/b/