Primary definition
The prevention of cyber action by credibly demonstrating the ability and willingness to deny benefits or impose costs to convince the adversary that restraint will result in better outcomes than will confrontation.
Also known ascybersecurity deterrence · digital deterrence · cyber defense deterrence · cyberthreat deterrence
1 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 10, 2026
— ODNI Cyber Threats to Elections LexiconView source
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ODNI
The prevention of cyber action by credibly demonstrating the ability and willingness to deny benefits or impose costs to convince the adversary that restraint will result in better outcomes than will confrontation.
ODNI Cyber Threats to Elections Lexicon · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Cyber Deterrence. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 21, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/cyber-deterrence
Sources
1 cited · last checked Aug 10, 2026
01
ODNI Cyber Threats to Elections Lexicon
ODNI Cyber Threats to Elections Lexicon
Single-source
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