Momentum Builds for Offensive Private-Sector Cyber Roles

Proactive, or even offensive, cyber efforts from government in combination with big companies could help deter serious cyberattacks, said Gareth Mott, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank focused on defense issues. “We’re not talking about legitimizing hacking back; it’s more about how the private sector, on a time-limited basis, can support government as part of a greater-good effort,” he said. Mott wrote a paper published Tuesday that examines whether governments could deputize private cyber firms to conduct counteroffensive operations under strict legal guidelines. The idea is distinct from private sector firms contracting with intelligence agencies or the military to support operations.