The Nationalization of Cyber Know-How: The Coercive Architecture Shaping China's “Strong Cyber Nation”

How DJBH, the “Three Harmonizations and Six Defenses” doctrine, and Digital Security ERP transform private companies into an operational arm of state cyber defense

The cybersecurity landscape in China is defined by a national integration strategy that transcends the traditional separation between the private sector and the state defense apparatus. Far from being a mere commercial relationship, this synergy is the result of an explicit regulatory framework that inextricably links corporate prosperity to national security, laying the groundwork for a rapid and continuous elevation of both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. At the heart of this mechanism are the Attack-Defense Laboratories (攻防), run by major technology companies, which function as strategic innovation engines.

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The Strategic Context: Security as a National Core Business

The positioning of cybersecurity in China is unequivocal: it is considered a matter of national security and an essential foundation for achieving the goals outlined by the 20th Party Congress, specifically the construction of a Cyber Superpower (网络强国) and a Digital China (数字中国). Within this framework, the guiding principle is "security and development equally important" (安全与发展并重), which elevates network and data security from a mere compliance cost to a "core business" for any digitized organization. This strategic emphasis provides the ideological and political blueprint that legitimizes, and effectively mandates, the integration of private resources and expertise into national defense.

The Technical Accelerator: Attack-Defense Labs and Dual-Use Competence Generation

The technical advancement driving this strategy is concentrated in the private sector’s Attack-Defense Laboratories, whose function has been clearly identified by Natto Thoughts as a "core pillar" for the advancement of Chinese offensive cyber capabilities. The analysis highlights that, to develop the most robust defense (the Blue Team), companies must inevitably master the most sophisticated attack techniques (the Red Team). These labs become the fertile ground for research and development of Zero-Day exploits, advanced offensive toolkits, and methodologies for system persistence. These dual-use technical competencies create a talent pool and technical knowledge base that can be readily leveraged, through legal and operational channels, for the state’s intelligence and security requirements.

The Legal Architecture: DJBH and Institutionalized Passive Defense

The collaboration between the private sector and the State is not optional; it is a legal obligation. This obligation is articulated across two fundamental pillars, beginning with passive defense. The Cybersecurity Classified Protection System (DJBH/CPS - 等级保护制度) is the foundational mechanism established by the 2017 Cybersecurity Law. The importance of this system is recognized by high-level authorities; it is described by former senior officials, such as a former Deputy Director of Bureau 11 of the Ministry of Public Security (公安部), as the "basic system" fundamental to national security and social stability.

The DJBH mandates the classification of information systems based on their criticality and the adoption of compulsory security standards, which are overseen by state agencies. This not only standardizes protection nationally but ensures that the security solutions sold by private firms are compliant and based on the latest know-how obtained from the attack-defense labs, effectively integrating private sector technology into the nation's defensive posture. The DJBH’s very nature as a foundational system, and the fact that its documentation is offered as a reference to other countries seeking to build a "Community of Shared Future in Cyberspace," underscores its role as a strategic model internationally.

The Implementation Philosophy: "Three Harmonizations and Six Defenses"

The integration of private expertise into active defense and incident response is guided by a clear operational philosophy: the "Three Harmonizations and Six Defenses" (三化六防). This concept is not merely a list of requirements but a doctrine that guides the planning and construction of a comprehensive prevention and control system. This philosophy marks a crucial evolution, pushing the sector to move beyond a fragmented security approach, often based on "local rectification and external attachment" (局部整改外挂式), toward a model of "deep integration and systematization" (深度融合体系化).

This systematization requires the construction of a collaborative defense model that involves "people + technology (platform, data) + process." Within this model, the obligation to "report cybersecurity incidents to the competent industry authority" ensures that the intelligence derived from vulnerabilities and attacks—often discovered in private labs—flows immediately to the state apparatus. Coordination with Public Security Agencies (公安机关) for early warning and incident response solidifies the State's authority as the orchestrator of all active defense activities, transforming private resources into a mobilizable force for national security.

The Advanced Management Model: Security Businessization and the Digital Security ERP

Completing the framework is the management dimension, which ensures that the security process is continuous and aligned with strategic goals. "Security as a Core Business" is implemented through the "Security Businessization Methodology (安全业务化)". This approach aims to standardize and integrate all security activities—from risk management and capability identification to monitoring and rapid response—into business management components.

The result is the creation of a "Digital Security ERP" (Enterprise Resource Planning), a system that encapsulates all security activities in an "orderly closed-loop" (有序闭环), supporting strategy, management, technology, and operations. This model, a priority under the 15th Five-Year Plan, not only improves the internal efficiency of digital organizations but also ensures systematic and constant compliance with national security demands. Adopting such an advanced management system guarantees that the offensive capabilities generated in private labs are managed, monitored, and maintained over time, ensuring their continuous readiness and operational availability for state active defense objectives.

In conclusion, China has constructed a unique cyber ecosystem where private technical excellence, fueled by attack-defense labs, is legally bound and strategically integrated into the State's security structures. The provisions concerning the DJBH, the philosophy of "Three Harmonizations and Six Defenses," and modern corporate management models ensure that the most advanced know-how translates into a constant strategic and operational advantage for the People's Republic of China in cyberspace.