Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks,
Fraud Management & Cybercrime,
Government
Government Warns of Rising Cyber Threats Amid Geopolitical Tensions by 2030
Recent assessments by the French government underscore Russia as the foremost security threat, projecting an escalation in cyber incursions by 2030. Acknowledging the role of heightened geopolitical tensions, France is advocating for enhanced cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks from state-sponsored attacks.
In a National Strategic Review released Monday, officials cautioned that ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and France’s backing of Ukraine could lead to what they termed “open warfare.” President Emmanuel Macron articulated that the threat is not transient but an enduring challenge at Europe’s borders.
The report outlines various Russian operations, emphasizing hybrid warfare tactics. Adversarial actions integrate cyberattacks, information manipulation, espionage, and other destabilizing strategies, positioning these as aligned with broader geopolitical ambitions.
Statistical data reveals that reported cyber intrusions surged from 2,800 incidents in 2020 to 4,300 in 2024, a notable annual increase of 15%, according to France’s National Agency for Information Systems Security (ANSSI). Noteworthy instances comprise Russian attacks on medical facilities and initiatives aimed at undermining the Paris Summer Olympics.
The predominance of attacks against educational institutions and healthcare sectors correlates with Moscow’s strategy to disrupt France, which has extended approximately €7.5 billion in support to Ukraine, including military supplies and humanitarian assistance.
Experts such as François Deruty, the chief intelligence officer at Sekoia, highlight the multifaceted threats facing French entities, which range from cyber-espionage campaigns targeting critical infrastructure to coordinated misinformation tactics aimed at eroding public trust.
Aligning with European security analyses, a U.K. government source corroborated an uptick in Russian hybrid attacks since the beginning of the year. The French government’s assessment is broad, also identifying China as a systematic cyber threat.
Recent disclosures from ANSSI also indicate targeted operations by Chinese hackers against governmental and media sectors, further complicating the security landscape. In light of these intensifying threats, the strategic review outlines plans to bolster France’s cyber resilience by investing in talent development, upgrading incident response capabilities, and enhancing legal frameworks to combat cybercrime.
Director General Vincent Strubel emphasized that the government aims to amplify efforts against systemic cyber threats, foreshadowing a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy to be detailed in the coming months. This approach seeks to fortify France’s defenses against a complex array of evolving cyber threats, drawing on insights from the MITRE ATT&CK framework, which may inform understanding of tactics such as initial access and privilege escalation among adversaries.
