@article{article_1399365, title={Trust Amidst Threats: A Defender’s Approach to Navigating the Cybersecurity Dilemma}, journal={Journal of Economics and Political Sciences}, volume={3}, pages={78–92}, year={2023}, author={Rugina, Juma Mdimu}, keywords={Siber Güvenlik, Dijital Ağlar, Savunucuların Bakış Açısı, Siber Güvenlik İkilemi}, abstract={This paper is based on the defenders’ perspective on a crucial point often overlooked in cybersecurity: not every cyber intrusion is meant for attacking purposes. Some intrusions are truly defensive, providing justifications for a nation to protect its networks. The paper aims to reveal the strategies, challenges, and subtleties defenders use to build trust among nations while defending their digital networks against cyber threats. It discusses the enduring nature of defenders’ creativity, skilled adversaries, the obstacles presented when gathering useful threat intelligence, and the importance of having capable network architecture and defenders. The main argument is that achieving maximum network security sometimes requires intruding into other nation’s networks, especially for advanced defenders like well funded intelligence agencies. Top-tier defenders enhance their cybersecurity by infiltrating the digital networks of potential adversaries and the networks of targets for those adversaries. Through these intrusions, they acquire valuable information that may be inaccessible through other means. Therefore, conducting network intrusions becomes exceptionally beneficial for advancing a state’s cybersecurity posture.}, number={2}, publisher={Düzce Üniversitesi}