Cybersecurity and cyber defence strategies of Japan

School of International Relations, Saint Petersburg University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: e.ukhanova@spbu.ru

Abstract

Modern national security strategies of many states attempt at covering risks and threats rising in nontraditional domains of outer space, electromagnetic and cyberspaces. Cyberattacks aim at inflicting financial, psychological, technological and physical damage at various goals from individuals and corporations to states and international organisations. One of the specific features of a cyberattack is uncertainty of its source: it is sometimes impossible to identify the attacker. All these provide incentives for states to qualify cyberthreats as threats to their national security, thus pushing them towards establishing mechanisms of dealing with these threats. As a result, more states attempt at formulating their strategies of cyber security and cyber defence. Japan, as one of the developed countries, relies heavily on its information infrastructure and telecommunication networks, and the military realm is not an exception. Since the early 2000s, the Japanese government has been elaborating its cybersecurity and cyber defence strategies, steadily unfolding its strategic vision of the new security environment. Japan has come up with a complex strategy of information security, cybersecurity and cyber defence. A key approach of the cybersecurity strategy for Japan is acting in a proactive manner while enhancing its reactive capabilities, meaning containment and sustainability capabilities accordingly.