“First attack the enemy’s strategy, then his alliance, next his
army, and last his cities.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War

When one pursues a military strategy, one reduces his adversary’s physical capacity and willingness to fight and continues to do so until the aim is achieved. In wartime and peacetime, force may be used as a threat, directly or indirectly. By building a quantitative or qualitative military advantage before hostilities might begin, one can reduce the capacity and willingness of an adversary to fight.

In military strategy, an adversary’s physical capacity and willingness to fight are reduced, and this is continued until the desired outcome is achieved. During wartime and peacetime, the threat may involve force, either directly or indirectly. By building quantitative or qualitative superiority in military power well in advance of hostilities, one can reduce an opponent’s capacity and willingness to fight, which is always a relative matter.

This is true whether the conflict is global or local in scope and whether it involves the highest or lowest stakes. Regardless of scope, scale, or aim, military strategy begins with understanding an adversary’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to what one wants and how they relate to oneself. It often requires revising one’s aims and improvising one’s courses of action as the struggle progresses. It ends when one party, or the other, has had enough or is unable to continue.

A military organization follows a comprehensive plan or course of action to achieve its objectives in a conflict. To achieve the desired end state, one must decide what actions should be taken, when, and how to utilize the resources available to them. The military strategy must be well-informed, coherent, and flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances to be effective. There are several key considerations when developing and implementing military strategy:

Objectives
It is crucial to have clear and achievable objectives that align with the overall goals of the military organization. These objectives should be:

• SMART
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound
• Resources
  • The military strategy should be based on a realistic assessment of the
  • resources available to the organization, including
    • Personnel
    • Equipment
    • Logistics
  • Careful consideration should be given to how these resources will be used to achieve the desired objectives.
• Threat assessment
  • To develop an effective military strategy, it is crucial to understand the enemy’s capabilities and intentions. This includes assessing their strengths and weaknesses, as well as assessing the potential risks and opportunities.
• Options
  • The development of a military strategy should encompass a range of options and contingencies that are flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances. These options should be carefully assessed according totheir potential impact, feasibility, and risk.
• Implementation
  • Once a military strategy has been developed, it is essential to have a clear implementation plan, including assigning responsibilities and setting deadlines for critical tasks. Effective communication and coordination between all levels of the organization are crucial to ensuring the strategy is being implemented effectively.

When military organizations use the military strategy effectively, they can gain a decisive advantage over their opponents and achieve their objectives during a conflict. Using what we have learned, we can compile valuable strategies to strengthen our cybersecurity posture.