How to Protect Your Business from Cyber Warfare and Nation-State Attacks in 2025

It may feel surreal to even write this, but we are living in a time where cyber warfare is not just a buzzword — it’s a very real threat that affects businesses of all sizes. With the rise in geopolitical tensions, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the frequency and severity of state-sponsored cyberattacks have dramatically increased. These aren’t just isolated events — they affect the broader digital and economic landscape across the globe, including businesses right here in the U.S.

At Tobin Solutions, we’ve received an influx of questions from clients about how they can better protect themselves from the fallout of nation-state cyber threats. Whether you’re a small business in Milwaukee or a growing company with global clients, understanding and preparing for these risks is now a cybersecurity necessity.

Understanding the Rise in Cyber Warfare

Cyber warfare between nation states has been happening for years. What’s changed is the boldness and intensity of the attacks. The data shows that cyberattacks have increased over 600% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a growing percentage are tied to state-sponsored cybercrime.

Critical infrastructure — including power grids, financial systems, and transportation networks — are frequently targeted in these digital conflicts. These attacks don’t just affect governments. They ripple out to suppliers, service providers, and private organizations, causing widespread disruptions and financial loss.

Why Zero Trust Security Is the Modern Cyber Defense Strategy

Traditional “castle and moat” security models, where everything inside the network is trusted, are outdated. Instead, organizations must embrace a Zero Trust security strategy. This approach assumes that every device, user, and application could be compromised — even those inside your network — and enforces continuous authentication, micro-segmentation, and least-privilege access.

Whether you’re running a local business or managing remote teams, zero trust principles are key to protecting sensitive systems from both ransomware and nation-state cyber threats.

Actionable Steps to Protect Your Business

1. Acknowledge the threat: Nation-state cyberattacks are not science fiction. They are real and increasingly targeting small and mid-sized businesses.
2. Audit and update your cybersecurity plan: Ensure your current security protocols cover remote access, email security, endpoint protection, and cloud services.
3. Test your disaster recovery plan: A cyberattack is not the time to find out that your backups aren’t working. Regularly test and refine your disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
4. Review your cyber insurance policy: Many policies now have “act of war” exclusions. Confirm with your provider whether you’re covered for cyber warfare incidents.
5. Implement identity and access management: Use multi-factor authentication, single sign-on, and session monitoring to secure all user access points.
6. Partner with a cybersecurity expert: If you’re unsure where to start, work with a managed IT services provider like Tobin Solutions. Our security audits and Technology Action Plans (TAPs) will help assess your vulnerabilities and define your roadmap to resilience.

Milwaukee Cybersecurity Experts Are Here to Help

Cyberattacks will continue to evolve, and so must your security strategy. If you’ve delayed cybersecurity upgrades or resisted internal policy changes, now is the time to act. Whether you’re in Milwaukee or anywhere across the country, Tobin Solutions is here to guide your business with proactive, customized cybersecurity solutions built for today’s landscape — including protection against state-sponsored threats and zero-day exploits.

Reach out today to schedule a cybersecurity consultation and take the next step toward securing your business from the inside out.

Contact Tobin Solutions to begin building a Zero Trust security framework tailored to your business.