Defend forward is a proactive cybersecurity strategy where organizations or nations take action to disrupt or deter cyber threats at their source before they can reach their intended targets. Rather than waiting to respond to attacks after they occur, defenders may identify, monitor, and counter adversaries in their own environments or infrastructure. This approach can include cyber operations, intelligence gathering, and pre-emptive measures to reduce the effectiveness of potential attacks. The goal is to shift the advantage from attackers to defenders by staying one step ahead and reducing the risk of successful cyber incidents.