Why the Next Cyber War Demands Private-Sector Firepower

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-07

The battlefield has shifted. It's no longer just about soldiers and missiles. The next major conflict might not involve a single shot fired, but it could bring down power grids, hospitals, and banks. Cyberattacks are becoming faster, smarter, and more destructive, largely because of AI. That's why the conversation around public-private cybersecurity partnerships is no longer a nice-to-have; it's a matter of national survival. Steve Durbin, a leading voice in cybersecurity strategy, has been making this exact point. He argues that governments simply don't have the firepower to fight this war alone. The private sector holds the data, the talent, and the cutting-edge technology. But right now, the two sides are often working in silos, and that's a dangerous gap. ### The AI Threat Multiplier Here's the thing about AI: it doesn't sleep. It doesn't take weekends off. And it doesn't get tired of trying to break through your defenses. Attackers are using AI to automate phishing campaigns, find vulnerabilities in code, and even mimic human voices to trick employees. The scale is overwhelming. Meanwhile, defenders are stuck with manual processes and outdated tools. It's like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. Durbin's warning is clear: if we don't speed up our collective response, we'll be constantly playing catch-up. ### Why Governments Can't Go It Alone Let's be honest about the limitations of the public sector. Government agencies are often bogged down by bureaucracy. They can't move at the speed of a startup. They also don't have access to the real-time threat intelligence that private companies see every day. Consider this: a major bank detects a new strain of malware at 2 AM. By the time the government gets a formal report, the attackers have already moved on to three other targets. The private sector has the visibility, but the government has the authority to act on a national scale. That's why the partnership is so crucial. Here's what a strong collaboration could look like: - **Real-time threat sharing** between critical infrastructure providers and federal agencies. - **Joint training exercises** that simulate large-scale attacks on the power grid or financial systems. - **Clear legal frameworks** that protect companies from liability when they share breach data. - **Incentives** for smaller firms to invest in basic cyber hygiene, not just the Fortune 500. ### The Cost of Inaction We've already seen what happens when these partnerships fail. The Colonial Pipeline attack in 2021 shut down fuel supplies along the East Coast. Hospitals have been forced to cancel surgeries due to ransomware. The average cost of a data breach is now over $4 million, and that's just the direct cost. The reputational damage is often far worse. Durbin's message is a wake-up call. We can't keep treating cybersecurity as an IT problem. It's an economic and national security issue. The next cyber war will be fought in milliseconds, and the side that wins will be the one that figured out how to share intelligence and act together. ### A Path Forward The good news is that we're seeing movement. Some governments are starting to fund public-private research hubs. There are pilot programs where companies can embed security analysts inside government watch centers. But it's not enough. We need a cultural shift, not just a policy change. Think of it like a neighborhood watch, but for the entire internet. When you see a suspicious car on your street, you call your neighbor. You don't wait for the police to drive by. The same logic applies here. Companies need to see each other as allies, not competitors, when it comes to cyber defense. Durbin's advice is simple: start building these relationships now, before the crisis hits. Because when the next big attack comes, there won't be time for introductions. The firepower is already there. We just need to point it in the same direction. If you're in a leadership role, ask yourself this: who are you talking to outside your own company? If the answer is no one, you're already behind. The next cyber war is coming, and it's going to take everyone to win it.