Hybrid threats refer to a set of coordinated actions - often carried out simultaneously - that combine cyberattacks, industrial espionage, disinformation campaigns and economic pressure. The aim? To destabilize the political sphere, the economy and general confidence, by taking advantage of the vulnerabilities specific to each area.
In a context where attacks are multiplying and diversifying, it is becoming crucial to understand the nature of these threats in order to better prepare for them and protect one's interests in the long term.

2. Some recent, telling examples

2.1. Increase in DDoS attacks (2024-2025)

In recent years, there has been a marked increase in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, which involve flooding a site or server with traffic to render it unavailable.
In 2024, several French ministries (Culture, Health, Economy and Ecological Transition) were targeted by an attack claimed by "Anonymous Sudan". In 2025, companies and other private sectors were also affected. Easy access to attack tools (often sold on the Dark Web) and the media coverage of such events contribute to the proliferation of this type of threat.

2.2. Russian hybrid warfare in Europe (2022-2024)

In addition to cyberattacks, Russia is said to be waging a veritable "hybrid war" against several European states. According to a recent article in Les Echos (March 2025), these destabilization actions include sabotage, assassination attempts, influence campaigns and disinformation.
France, Germany, the Baltic States and Scandinavia have been particularly targeted. This strategy, often referred to as "low-cost warfare", highlights the scale of the political, economic and social risks incurred by European democracies.

2.3 Espionage and sabotage in the French defense industry (2022-2024)

The "classic" dimension of threats remains a major challenge. Sébastien Lecornu, French Minister of the Armed Forces, has highlighted a 25% increase in two years in burglaries, sabotage and espionage targeting defense companies or their subcontractors.
These players are often less protected or less aware than large corporations, making them prime targets for foreign operations. The consequences for French competitiveness and sovereignty can be particularly serious, especially when sensitive technologies or strategic information are stolen.

2.4. Economic predation strategies

Hybrid threats can also take the form of more subtle economic maneuvers: the takeover of a key supplier, the deliberate creation of a dependency on a strategic raw material, or even massive investments leading to a monopoly situation.
When a company or state finds itself economically dependent on an unscrupulous player, its sovereignty and resilience are weakened. This dependence can then be exploited to exert political pressure, gain competitive advantage or impose disadvantageous long-term conditions.

3. Understanding the scope and ultimate goal

Hybrid threats are ultimately aimed at undermining global confidence - whether that of citizens in their institutions, investors in the economy, or consumers in businesses. Attacks can thus take place simultaneously or asynchronously, on several fronts: cyber (server saturation, data theft), information (dissemination of fake news or rumors), geopolitical (attacks on national security) and economic (takeover of strategic assets, blocking of resources).
In this complex landscape, states are not the only protagonists:

- Criminal groups sometimes act on their own behalf (ransom, data sales, trafficking), but also as "proxies" for foreign powers.
- Foreign groups or funds act as gateways to take control of sectors or create dependencies.

This multiplicity of players blurs the attribution chain and complicates responses.

4. Key lessons for organizations

4.1. Don't compartmentalize safety

A first fundamental lesson is the need to move beyond a "silo" vision of security. Hybrid threats affect IT, reputation, physical security, crisis management and legal issues all at the same time.
To deal with them, we need to mobilize the entire organization and adopt a global security posture: general management, the IT department, legal and communications departments, as well as human resources and physical security. Only a coordinated, holistic approach can respond effectively to scenarios that play out on several different levels.

4.2. Assess vulnerability and plan ahead

A security audit specific to hybrid threats is an essential starting point. It involves identifying critical assets (data, know-how, strategic partnerships), assessing risks (which attack scenarios are most likely?), mapping dependencies and anticipating potential consequences (reputational damage, production interruption, legal sanctions, etc.).
Setting up 360° surveillance (cyber watch, media watch, monitoring of weak signals) is another essential element. The earlier an organization detects signs of a threat, the greater its chances of protecting itself or limiting the impact of an attack.

4.3. Strengthen the resilience of the subcontracting chain

The weakest links are often to be found among subcontractors and service providers, who do not always have the same level of protection. It is therefore crucial to raise awareness and provide support to these partners, notably through training, audits or contractual security clauses.
In the defense industry, for example, a poorly protected service provider can become the gateway to a much broader attack, compromising strategic information or technologies.

4.4. Don't underestimate the informational dimension

Manipulation and disinformation campaigns can cause serious damage to a company's reputation, and even sow doubt in public opinion. False information, spread via social networks, can lead to chain reactions (panic, customer movements, political pressure, etc.).
It is therefore essential to train employees, particularly those working in communications and public relations, to identify and counter attempts to manipulate information.

5. Towards a proactive, coordinated approach

5.1 Identify your strategic priorities

First and foremost, you need to list and prioritize the most critical assets, processes, sites or subsidiaries. Knowing what is vital to the organization's long-term viability enables you to prioritize protection actions. Mapping dependencies is also an essential exercise.

5.2. Set up watch units

A watch unit, made up of a variety of profiles (IT, communications, legal, etc.), can constantly scrutinize the organization's environment. Whether the signals are technical (cyber-attacks in progress), media-related (smear campaigns), or legal-economic (attempts to take control of a supplier), this 360° watch offers a precise, responsive diagnosis.

5.3. Developing a safety culture

Regular team awareness-raising and dedicated training courses are essential to instill the right reflexes. Every employee needs to know how to report an incident, protect his or her identifiers and manage sensitive information. The Security and Human Resources Departments, in collaboration with the IT Department, play an essential role here.

5.4. Testing and training (crisis plans)

Crisis exercises allow us to test coordination between different departments, identify grey areas and correct procedures before a real incident occurs. A good crisis plan needs to provide for various fallback options, particularly in terms of internal and external communication, to avoid panic.

6. Conclusion and call to action

In the age of hybrid threats, security has become a major strategic issue for all organizations, whether they are public administrations, major corporations or SMEs. Recent examples show that no sector is spared, and that attacks can be frighteningly effective when several vectors are used at the same time.

The key lies in a global, integrated and anticipatory approach:

- Are you sure that your current protection measures cover all dimensions of the threat (cyber, economic, reputational, etc.)?
- Are your subsidiaries, service providers and partners aware of the threat and properly prepared?

At Semkel, we help our customers build this global vision of security, by supporting them in implementing security policies (audit + recommendations) and 360° cyber, economic and reputational surveillance, as well as appropriate responses to threats. Over and above technical tools, this means developing a genuine culture of resilience, a prerequisite for countering attacks that are constantly reinventing themselves.