Psychological Defence and Cyber Security

Abstract

Disruptive developments in the field of information and communication technology have enabled malicious actors to turn elements of the digital ecosystem into information weapons in hybrid conflict.  Estonia has tackled the new security realm with comprehensive national defence that is built upon understanding that the society itself is object of security and should provide appropriate safeguards and responses. Estonian conceptualisations of national cybersecurity, cyber psychological defence, strategic communications are elaborated in the light of actual seminal threat situations. Analysis of evolvement of the strategic documents guides the recommendations for even deeper blend of the technical cybersecurity culture with value-centric psychological defence and internationalisation of information security situational awareness and planning.