Western governments increasingly use economic sanctions to counteract state-sponsored cyber threat actors. A study presented at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) examined whether these measures are effective. Findings show that while sanctions do not fully eliminate cyberattacks, they can make them slower, riskier, and more expensive for attackers. By restricting access to financial systems, technology, and expertise, sanctions raise the cost of operations and heighten the likelihood of detection or failure. Cybersecurity professionals should therefore consider sanctions as one layer of a broader defensive strategy, complementing technical controls, threat intelligence, and international cooperation.