International Conference: Current Security Challenges for the Western Balkan Region Addressed by Means of Joint Responsibility and Cooperation Coordinated cyber attacks in combination with traditional methods of warfare could paralyze a country not just for hours, but for weeks. All technically advanced states therefore have to take strategic and operational precautions to protect themselves against such potential threats. Cyber attacks already present a substantial unconventional risk for national security and potentially affected government agencies and business enterprises have to provide for self­protection- whether through military or legal means. In fact, the type and extent of potential criminal cyber attacks could overwhelm existing governmental capacity and require special capabilities and forces. In many countries defending against externally-inspired cyber attacks on national security have consequently become a new task of national defence establishments. A STRATEGY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL CYBERSPACE Strategy means translating power into politics,(i.e., all those who, to a substantial degree, while the nature of the power factors is of depend on a functioning critical information and 56 secondary importance. The aim of every strategy is to full the tasks set by politics with communication technology-based infrastructure) have to develop and implement the best possible use of the available means. strategic protection concepts. The core of these The decision sought in battle is to make the concepts must be the optimal protection of the opponent accept the conditions imposed on relevant ICT basic values and core functions. him. In this dialectic of wills, the decision What is of primary importance in this regard is becomes a psychological reaction to be instilled ensured constant and uninterrupted access, in the opponent: He should become convinced appropriate condentiality, and the inviolable that it is useless to take up battle or continue it. integrity of desired information services and communication lines of critical ICT- in If cyber attacks are used as an offensive particular, the reliable availability of truly critical strategic concept, potentially threatened states ICT infrastructure. STRATEGIC OPTION In principle, small states like Austria have only one strategic option for the protection against cyber Attacks: They must do everything to prevent the attacker from reaching his political goals by permanently guarding the critical infrastructure and taking precautions for emergencies and crises. The chances for the success of this option depend primarily mainly on the private owners and operators of critical infrastructures, since the bulk of these are in their hands. The state also has the responsibility of protecting society in cyberspace. By creating the prerequisites, framework conditions, and through the provision of the necessary resources resolutely, it can do so. In this context, the objects of protection are the country's critical ICT­dependent infrastructures. Cyber War scenario would emerge.