The Art of War (Part 2)
Hi !
In my previous post, I mentioned that “The Art of War” was taught at the military level. Here’s what my recent research indicates on the subject.
Nearly every major military academy in the world includes it in their curriculum, not for its sword-fighting tactics, but for its philosophy of conflict management.
- West Point (United States)
The United States Military Academy at West Point is perhaps one of the most prominent proponents of Sun Tzu.
The book is used to teach the concept of “asymmetric warfare” and the importance of economy of force. Cadets are taught that winning without fighting is the supreme height of skill. Sun Tzu’s principles on knowing the enemy () are integrated into military intelligence modules.
- École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr (France)
In France, Sun Tzu’s thought is often contrasted with that of Clausewitz to provide a balance between "total war" and the "war of deception."
To cultivate intellectual agility. Sun Tzu emphasizes fluidity (the metaphor of water): an officer must adapt to the terrain and circumstances rather than following a rigid plan. The scope is the study of maneuvers and strategic surprise.
- National Defence University (China)
The elite academy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) naturally places Sun Tzu at the heart of its doctrine.
It is a matter of culture and national doctrine. Modern Chinese strategy relies heavily on the notions of subversion and psychological victory derived from the text. this in order to study “unrestricted warfare” and coercive diplomacy.
- Sandhurst (United Kingdom)
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst uses the text to shape the character of future leaders.
The reason, To emphasize logistics and morale. Sun Tzu was among the first to highlight that a starving or demoralized army is already defeated, regardless of the general’s genius.
- Why is this book still relevant today?
The passage of time has not diminished the relevance of the treatise because it focuses on human psychology rather than technology. Here are the three pillars taught in academies:
| Concept | Reason for Teaching |
|---|---|
| Deception | “All warfare is based on deception.” => Learning to mask intentions. |
| Economy of Effort | “Avoiding long, costly sieges.” => preserving resources and the state. |
| Intelligence | “Using spies and understanding the terrain” => to reduce uncertainty. |
To conclude
Even if cybersecurity professionals never formally apply the teachings of Sun Tzu, they are missing something fundamental if they haven’t at least read *The Art of War*.
Modern cybersecurity is not just a technical discipline—it is a contest of intelligence, deception, timing, and asymmetry. Sun Tzu’s core ideas map directly to how real attackers operate today: they avoid direct confrontation, exploit weaknesses rather than strengths, rely on stealth, and succeed by understanding their opponent better than the opponent understands them.
Frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK describe what attackers do, but Sun Tzu helps explain why they do it—and how they think. Without that perspective, defenders risk becoming purely reactive, focused on tools and alerts rather than strategy.
Reading Sun Tzu does not turn someone into an attacker; it sharpens defensive thinking. It encourages anticipation instead of reaction, simplicity instead of complexity, and clarity in prioritizing what truly matters. In a field shaped by uncertainty and constant adaptation, that mindset is not optional—it is a competitive advantage.
At a minimum, cybersecurity practitioners should read it—not as a historical curiosity, but as a practical guide to understanding the logic of modern cyber conflict.
Cheers.