Fighting the Cyber Forever War: Born Defense Blends Investment Strategy with Just War Principles

According to SecurityWeek, Born Defense is emerging from stealth to support organisations engaged in the cyber ‘Forever War’, but within the constraints of the Just War Doctrine. Born Defense is an investment issuer whose mission is to improve national security by facilitating access to funds for firms in the national security sphere, recognising that cybersecurity is a major focus.

An investment issuer creates the investment (usually shares in the client company) and sells those shares to investors, meaning the investors are directly invested in the long-term performance of the company. The firm argues the Forever War is a conflict with no defined end goal, shifting targets and enemies, and that deterrence should be achieved without hacking back.

The Just War principles discussed include that war must be declared by a legitimate authority and that the citizenry must be protected from war’s effects. Craven adds that a Washington or London lawyer travelling with a laptop is an intelligence grab, and Born Defense aims to plug gaps in SME funding for the defence space through trade finance.