For decades, the United States has been widely recognized as the most sophisticated nation in terms of cybersecurity, holding titles such as top cyber power and the most cyber-capable nation in the world. However, in recent years countries like China and Russia have been leapfrogging up these lists, thanks in part to rapid access to cyber innovation, and they pose a credible threat of surpassing our capabilities in the very near future. 

It is also clear from the onslaught of cyberattacks—many of which are successful—that our security posture and resilience has room for improvement if we’re going to keep our governments, critical infrastructure, and private sector safe from threats. The reasons behind these shortcomings must be acknowledged, studied, and addressed. Otherwise we risk falling behind and allowing adversaries to gain the upper hand.