Top 10 Most Powerful Countries in Cyberspace
Updated: Nov 30, 2021
The importance of cyberspace is ever-present in our todays age, from its role in national economies, in trade, political debate, in technology growth to its use as a tool for coercion and espionage, and its perceived centrality as one of the determinants of success in any war.
According to the team at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School, the 10 most powerful countries in cyberspace in the world are as follows:
1. United States 2. China 3. United Kingdom 4. Russia 5. Netherlands 6. France 7. Germany 8. Canada 9. Japan 10. Australia
Every country is trying to build their cyber space as cyber warfare is future of the war and crime. According to International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Countries are Ranked based on a spectrum of cyber capabilities, from the strength of their digital economies and the maturity of their intelligence and security functions to how well cyber facilities were integrated with military operations. The country's are divided into three tiers according to the cyberspace capabilities.
The US is ranked as a “top tier” cyber power whereas China, Russia, UK, Australia, Canada, France and Israel are in the second tier. Along with India, the third tier comprises Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea, Iran and Vietnam.
Most powerful Countries in cyberspace:
Tier 1: USA
Tier 2: Russia, China, UK, Australia, Canada, France, Israel
Tier 3: India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, North Korea, Iran, Vietnam
According to the IISS, China is almost one decade behind USA in terms of cyberspace capabilities. Also, China and Russia have proven expertise in offensive cyber operations like conducting online spying, intellectual property theft and disinformation campaigns against the US and its allies.
US is the only country in the top tier in terms of cybersecurity because of its unparalleled digital-industrial base, highly trained cyber professionals its cryptographic expertise and the ability to execute “sophisticated, surgical, advanced ” cyber strikes against adversaries.