The role of cybersecurity in national defense and critical infrastructure protection includes: Protecting National Security: Safeguarding sensitive military and intelligence data from espionage, sabotage, and cyber warfare. Ensuring Continuity of Government Operations: Maintaining the functionality of essential government services and systems even during cyber attacks. Securing Critical Infrastructure: Protecting vital sectors such as energy, water, transportation, and healthcare from cyber threats that could disrupt services and endanger public safety. Defending Against Cyber Warfare: Developing capabilities to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber attacks from hostile nation-states or terrorist groups. Public Trust and Safety: Ensuring the public's trust in government systems and the safety of citizens by protecting personal data and public services. Collaboration and Information Sharing: Facilitating cooperation between government agencies, private sector partners, and international allies to strengthen collective cybersecurity defenses. Cyber Intelligence and Threat Analysis: Gathering and analyzing intelligence on emerging cyber threats to proactively defend against potential attacks.