Establishing volunteer US cyber defense units: A holistic approach

The global use of the cyber domain has heightened speed, agility, and interconnectivity within our societies. Consequently, it has also increased threats that share the same characteristics. No longer is reality linear, as two points in time and individuals can connect from varied locations almost instantly, shifting the balance of how we approach traditional security challenges. This paper argues for the creation of volunteer United States (US) Cyber Defense Units (US CDU) at the state-level, similar to the Estonian Defence League's Cyber Defence Unit (EDL CDU). The goal in its establishment being to achieve a whole-of-society approach by creating the opportunity for individuals across sectors to volunteer in the joint cause of protecting US cyberspace. Voluntarism has worked before (e.g. US Minutemen, US National Guard, Civil Air Patrol) and it can certainly work again — this time, for the cyber domain. This paper provides background on prior US cyber defense initiatives and delves into the EDL CDU to draw possible theoretical structures and lessons for the formation and integration of the proposed US CDU. It also examines ongoing developments with the US Cyber Mission Force (CMF) to compare efforts. The paper includes primary and secondary source material from academia, government, and private sectors in both the US and Estonia. It analyzes ongoing efforts for cyber defense and reviews academic literature and research on the topics discussed.