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Cyber Warfare Expert Reveals Rising Threats and Future of Digital Security

Cloud

Business Honor
24 March, 2025

Major General Jonathan Shaw discusses cybersecurity risks, leadership strategies, and national resilience.

Ex-Head of the Defence Cyber Security Programme at the UK Ministry of Defence, Major-General Jonathan Shaw, has played a key role in shaping modern cyber defence policies. In a recent interview, he spoke about the evolving threats in cyberspace and the need for organizations to improve their cyberattack resilience.

Reflecting on his time leading the Defence Cybersecurity Programme, Shaw noted his proudest achievement was bridging the gap between technical complexity and practical understanding. "My greatest accomplishment was making a digital subject meaningful to those unfamiliar with it," he said.

Shaw underlined that effective cybersecurity leadership requires a decentralized approach, engaging front-line employees rather than relying on top-down decision-making. He warned against 'cyber tourists'—senior leaders who lack deep understanding of cybersecurity—stressing that organizations must train and have faith in their technical personnel.

In order to safeguard against cybercrime, Shaw recommended that organizations reduce their digital footprint, prepare for imminent breaches, and uphold cybersecurity compliance along their supply chains. He cited the example of Estonia in 2007 when a Russian cyberattack had disabled critical infrastructure, compelling the nation to emerge as a global leader in cybersecurity.

Shaw also cautioned against future cyber threats such as the unwarranted confidence in blockchain and the geopolitical realignment of digital power from the West to China. He contended that cybersecurity frameworks will become more and more influenced by strategic interests that extend beyond the conventional Western values.

On the possibility of national cyberattacks, Shaw acknowledged the restraining power of mutually assured destruction but warned that criminal gangs serving as proxies for states are a continuing threat. He called on governments to visit diplomatic and economic repercussions on cybercriminals.