The review introduces a new CyberEM Command to unify offensive and defensive cyber activities across all military branches and intelligence agencies.
The UK's 2025 Strategic Defence Review formally acknowledged the central role of cyber and electromagnetic operations in national defense, while also integrating AI and digital warfighting into broader military capabilities.
According to SecurityWeek, previously unacknowledged offensive cyber actions are now framed as necessary components of modern warfare.
The review introduces a new CyberEM Command to unify offensive and defensive cyber activities across all military branches and intelligence agencies, coordinating strategies without directly executing them. It emphasises AI-driven decision-making and the creation of a "digital targeting web" to connect sensors, analysts, and weapons systems for rapid, multi-domain response.
Nadir Izrael, co-founder and CTO at Armis, said: “This is a welcome step towards strengthening the UK's national defence - but modern warfare isn’t just on land, sea or air. It’s digital too. Cyber-attacks are now used to sow division, target infrastructure and weaken nations from within.
“Right now, 71 percent of UK organisations believe Russia poses the most cybersecurity risk. As we face growing threats from these hostile states, we must make sure cyber defence is treated as critically as any physical force.”
Written by
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with 25 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 17 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Forum, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and the National Cyber Security Show, and served as editor of SC Media UK, Infosecurity Magazine and IT Security Guru. He was also an analyst with 451 Research and a product marketing lead at Tenable.
