Is America Ready for the Ultimate Cyber Showdown?

As Trump and Kamala Harris prepare for a high-stakes election, are we overlooking the biggest threat of all?

With the 2024 American national election approaching, we’re hearing a lot about poll numbers, campaign ads, and debates. But here’s the question that really matters: Could a cyberattack decide this election? As the candidates prepare for an epic showdown, the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure is facing one of its biggest tests yet. Are we truly prepared for what could be the most significant cyber threat to democracy we’ve ever seen?

Imagine a scenario where, in the final days of voting, a cyber adversary infiltrates our election systems. Voter databases could be compromised, vote counts manipulated, or worse—the results could be altered, swaying the election. It’s a terrifying thought, but it’s not far-fetched. In fact, recent events show that election security is a serious, ongoing concern:

• 2016 U.S. Presidential Election: While the exact impact remains debated, investigations revealed that Russian actors engaged in hacking and disinformation campaigns. Targeting both voter registration databases and the Democratic National Committee’s emails, these attacks attempted to influence the American public’s perceptions and potentially disrupt the democratic process. Although no votes were changed, the interference underscored vulnerabilities in election infrastructure.
• 2019 European Parliament Elections: Cybersecurity officials discovered multiple attacks, including phishing campaigns and misinformation tactics, intended to disrupt the voting process and influence public opinion. These incidents highlighted how foreign entities seek to exploit weak points in the electoral system to manipulate outcomes and weaken confidence in democratic institutions.
• 2020 U.S. Presidential Election: The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reported heightened attempts by state-sponsored hackers, especially from Russia, China, and Iran. Threat actors targeted election systems, voter databases, and even private organizations involved in election-related activities. While these attempts were largely thwarted, the scale and sophistication of the threats revealed the lengths to which adversaries will go to influence American elections.

These incidents serve as stark reminders: protecting our elections from cyber threats is not a hypothetical exercise but a real, pressing concern. The implications for 2024 are significant. With the stakes higher than ever, Americans must ask themselves—are we doing enough?

Three Critical Questions for Election Preparedness

To combat such threats, businesses and organizations responsible for digital infrastructure need to ask themselves three questions: What are we doing? Is it enough? How do we know?

Election security isn’t solely the government’s responsibility. Leaders across all sectors need to make cybersecurity a priority, just as they would for financial or operational risks. It’s about ensuring continuous monitoring, implementing automated testing, and making sure that cybersecurity measures align with business and national interests. A robust defense is not just about preventing attacks; it’s about maintaining public trust in the electoral process.

The Role of CEOs and Executives

In the race to protect election integrity, CEOs and senior leaders play a vital role. Just as they manage other business risks, executives need to approach election security as a critical business risk, not merely an IT issue. From implementing multi-factor authentication to leveraging AI for advanced threat detection, business leaders can contribute to defending election infrastructure.

As attacks grow more sophisticated, CEOs must be directly involved in cybersecurity strategy. By asking tough questions, holding technology teams accountable, and committing to proactive risk management, they set the tone for resilience. Will they rise to the challenge in time for the 2024 election?

A Call to Action

The stakes for the 2024 election are unprecedented. As American citizens and business leaders, we all have a role to play in securing the electoral process. This year, make sure your organization is not only prepared to fend off cyber threats but is actively contributing to a broader defense against potential election disruption.

Whether you support Trump, Kamala Harris, or any other candidate, one thing is certain: safeguarding our election process is crucial. Without vigilance, preparation, and unwavering commitment, we may find ourselves vulnerable to forces seeking to undermine our democracy. Now more than ever, we need leaders who will protect the democratic process, ensuring that the American people—and not shadowy cyber adversaries—decide the outcome.

Are you prepared? The future of our democracy might just depend on it.