Recent developments in U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations signal a return to what some analysts call “great power politics,” a world where major nations increasingly assert their interests and spheres of influence.
When political tensions rise between nations, the digital battlefield often becomes the first, silent front where conflicts play out. Nation-state actors and their proxies increasingly target businesses for economic gain and as strategic leverage points in larger geopolitical contests. That’s a huge concern for organizations of all sizes, especially considering that cybersecurity threats already rank as the leading risk to business growth, with 74% of executives at large companies identifying it as their top concern, according to a recent Chubb report.
In this article, we’ll explore the direct connection between political instability and cybersecurity risks, examine how foreign adversaries exploit these periods of transition, and outline practical, long-term strategies that businesses can implement to protect themselves in this new reality.
Understanding the The Political Instability-Cybersecurity Connection
The connection between political instability and increased cyber risk isn’t coincidental; it’s causal. Here are the main reasons why businesses face heightened vulnerability during politically unstable periods:
- Nation-state actors mobilize: When geopolitical tensions rise, government-sponsored cyber operations intensify. According to Critical Start’s Cyber Research Unit, state-sponsored threat actors exploit international conflicts to advance strategic interests through cyber espionage, disruption, and influence campaigns. For example, Russian threat actors like Turla and Sandworm have been linked to attacks on critical infrastructure in Ukraine, while Chinese groups like Winnti target intellectual property and digital certificates.
- Critical infrastructure becomes a target: During periods of political instability, adversaries strategically target essential services to maximize disruption. In 2023 alone, 90% of the world’s largest energy companies suffered cybersecurity breaches either directly or through third parties, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach report. Even smaller, non-critical businesses face significant risks during these attacks, as they often become stepping stones for threat actors to reach higher-value targets. Additionally, sophisticated malware deployed against critical infrastructure frequently spreads beyond its intended targets, affecting businesses across industries and supply chains.
- Supply chain vulnerabilities multiply: Recent data indicates a 200% increase in software supply chain attacks in 2023 alone, with projected global annual costs reaching $138 billion by 2031. When political tensions rise, supply chains become an attractive target for cyber adversaries aiming to disrupt economic stability, weaken strategic rivals, or gain political advantage. Attacks on software supply chains are particularly appealing because they can amplify disruption across multiple sectors simultaneously—crippling a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure with a single strike.
- Hacktivism surges: Political tensions trigger a rise in ideologically motivated cyber attacks. Groups like NoName057(16) and KillNet have emerged as pro-Russian hacktivist collectives that focus predominantly on the disruption of government websites and financial institutions in countries perceived as adversaries. Hacktivist campaigns also frequently expand beyond government targets to businesses in the defense sector, which is an important reason why regulations such as CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) have become essential for contractors working with the Department of Defense.
- Disinformation campaigns intensify: Periods of political instability see dramatic increases in coordinated influence operations that employ disinformation, propaganda, and manipulation of online spaces. When disinformation proliferates, employees may inadvertently act on false information, leading to breaches or compromised internal security practices. Additionally, manipulated narratives can damage brand reputation, disrupt market stability, and expose vulnerabilities through orchestrated confusion.
In essence, political instability turns the geopolitical landscape into a digital battleground, where businesses often find themselves on the front lines.
Creating a Digital Shied Against Political Instability
As adversaries capitalize on instability to achieve strategic goals—economic disruption, influence over critical sectors, or simply creating chaos—all organizations must prioritize cybersecurity as a fundamental strategic concern.
Master the Cybersecurity Fundamentals
The most sophisticated cyber defenses begin with mastering the basics. Unfortunately, many organizations overlook the most basic best practices and inadvertently create easy entry points for attackers during politically turbulent times.
Start with a comprehensive security assessment to identify vulnerabilities in your current infrastructure. Implement multi-factor authentication across all systems—this simple step alone can prevent approximately 99.9% of account compromise attacks, according to Microsoft Security Research. Make sure all software is regularly updated with security patches, as outdated systems are prime targets during periods of political unrest when nation-state actors actively exploit known vulnerabilities. Finally, conduct regular employee security awareness training to educate employees about current threats.
Develop and Test Incident Response Capabilities
When politically motivated cyber attacks occur, the speed and effectiveness of your response directly impact the outcome. Yet many organizations discover critical gaps in their incident response plans only after a breach has occurred.
If you don’t have one already, create a detailed incident response plan that clearly defines roles and responsibilities for your team, establishes communication protocols for various scenarios, and documents recovery procedures. Most importantly, test this plan to see if it works in practice.
Secure Your Supply Chain
One effective strategy is to rely on proven providers with robust security frameworks, such as Microsoft. Microsoft 365, Azure Cloud, and associated services offer comprehensive protection, continuous security updates, and transparency in their software lifecycle. By choosing established, industry-leading solutions over lesser-known alternatives, your organization significantly reduces exposure to supply chain risks.
Invest in Cyber Insurance
Cyber insurance has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a “must-have.” With cyber incidents increasing and becoming more expensive, organizations can’t afford to rely solely on preventative measures. Cyber insurance helps offset the financial impact by covering costs such as incident response, legal fees, regulatory fines, and customer notifications.
Remember that insurers increasingly require proof of baseline security measures, so implementing the fundamentals discussed earlier not only reduces your risk but may also lower your premiums.
Partner with an Experienced Cybersecurity Provider
Finally, cybersecurity shouldn’t be tackled alone—especially given the complex threat landscape created by geopolitical instability. Partnering with a trusted cybersecurity provider allows your organization to access expert-level insights, technology, and strategies without overstretching internal resources.
At OSIbeyond, we provide comprehensive cybersecurity services that can help your organization thrive despite increased political instability. Schedule a free meeting with us to discuss how we can help strengthen your defenses against politically motivated cyber threats.