The art of cyber war: Sun Tzu’s ancient wisdom in modern threat intelligence

This paper explores the enduring relevance of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, written in the 5th century bc, to modern cyber security practices. It examines how the ancient strategist’s principles can be applied to enhance threat intelligence and cyber defence strategies in the digital landscape. The paper discusses five key principles from Sun Tzu’s work: knowing oneself and the enemy, the use of deception, winning without combat, the importance of speed and adaptability, and the use of alliances. Each principle is contextualised within current cyber security challenges and illustrated with real-world examples and case studies. The paper emphasises the critical importance of making cyber threat intelligence more accessible and actionable. It concludes by highlighting the enduring value of combining timeless strategic wisdom with cutting-edge technology to create more robust and effective cyber defences. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.