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Modern conflict is no longer dominated solely by tanks, ships, and fighter jets. The nature of warfare itself has transformed dramatically. Today, battles are increasingly fought—and won—in cyberspace.
Historically, military leaders intimately understood their hardware; pilots knew their planes, naval commanders knew their ships, and tank commanders knew their armoured vehicles. But today, as warfare evolves into an information-driven contest, many critical military assets exist in domains foreign to traditional commanders: cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and electronic warfare.
Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes, Deputy Commander of UK Strategic Command, put it clearly at Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Japan 2025:
“Cyber is the domain of greatest opportunity as well as greatest vulnerability. Dual-use technologies, often commercially developed, now decisively shape the modern battlefield, making cyber resilience crucial.”
Indeed, the private sector now plays a far more central role in defence than ever before. Prime Minister Ishiba highlighted this clearly, stating simply but powerfully:
“Without small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), tanks will not move, and fighters cannot fly.”
In short, the private sector (particularly SMEs) is no longer just a support structure, but a frontline participant in national security. Australian Ambassador Justin Hayhurst echoed this, emphasising that transferring cyber knowledge and skills from Australia to Japan will be critical to building regional cyber resilience.
Why cybersecurity and AI are now strategic core
Defence procurement has long been centred around hardware, visible, tangible military assets, but today, information superiority and cyber resilience increasingly dictate battlefield outcomes. Governments and traditional militaries that are built around heavy equipment and clear lines of command often struggle to adapt quickly enough to the speed and complexity of cyber threats. This is where the private sector’s expertise shines brightest.
Modern battlefields are now dominated by real-time information, rapidly evolving cyber threats, and AI-driven decisions at speeds beyond human capability. Today’s decisive military technologies like threat intelligence, secure networks, resilient telecommunications, AI systems, and quantum-resistant cryptography, are increasingly sustained by private sector innovation.
With all of that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the key themes from DSEI.
Five Key Cyber Themes from DSEI Japan 2025
DSEI Japan 2025 crystallised this shift into five clear cybersecurity imperatives:
1. Cyber as the new strategic battlefield: Traditional warfare is increasingly supplemented and, in some cases, overshadowed by cyber operations. Information disruption, digital espionage, and cyber-enabled sabotage are now decisive factors in conflicts.
2. AI-driven defence capabilities: Artificial intelligence is indispensable for rapid threat identification and automated response, allowing decision-making at unimaginable speeds. This capability is particularly well-developed in commercial tech sectors.
3. Quantum-ready security: Quantum computing threatens traditional encryption methods, demanding an immediate transition to quantum-resistant cryptography. Here again, the private sector leads in both innovation and implementation.
4. Securing dual-use technologies: Technologies initially designed for commercial purposes, like satellite communications (Starlink), drones, and network infrastructure, have rapidly become military necessities. Yet, these dual-use assets present new cyber vulnerabilities requiring specialised security approaches.
5. International and Public-Private Collaboration: Cyber threats do not respect national borders. Effective cybersecurity demands deep international and cross-sector collaboration, interoperability, and real-time intelligence-sharing.
Netskope is meeting the cyber challenge
These five themes align closely with Netskope’s strategic vision and capabilities:
- Strategic cyber enablement: Netskope’s cloud-native platform rapidly adapts to dynamic threats, providing agility and resilience essential for modern defence operations.
- AI-powered security: Leveraging advanced AI, Netskope delivers predictive intelligence and proactive cyber responses, addressing threats at scale and speed.
- Quantum-resilient encryption: Netskope prioritises cryptographic agility, providing protection for sensitive data against emerging quantum computing threats.
- Dual-use technology security: Netskope’s zero trust framework provides granular visibility and control, effectively securing commercially developed technologies adopted by defence organisations.
- Global cybersecurity collaboration: Netskope’s infrastructure enables secure, seamless collaboration across national boundaries, fostering real-time interoperability and collective defence among allies.
Collaboration and adaptation are crucial
The message from DSEI Japan 2025 is clear: traditional military assets remain important, but cyber, information, and AI now define strategic advantage. Commanders and political leaders who once understood battleships and aircraft must now master,or partner effectively with, telecommunications, AI-driven decision-making, quantum resilience, and cybersecurity experts.
In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, public-private collaboration isn’t optional; it’s essential. Private-sector innovation and agility offer governments an indispensable advantage in navigating these complex cyber challenges.
Netskope understands this new reality intimately and is committed to supporting governments, industries, and alliances to secure the future. The battlefield has evolved, and Netskope stands ready as a critical partner in this new age of cyber-driven defence.
If you’d like to learn more about the challenges organizations are facing on their SASE and zero trust journey, alongside practical steps on how to move forward, come to the Netskope SASE Summit in Singapore on June 24.
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