About

The 5×5 series by the Cyber Statecraft Initiative features five experts answering five questions on a common theme, trend, or current event in the world of cyber.

Editions

The 5×5

Oct 23, 2024

The 5×5—The evolving role of CISOs and senior cybersecurity executives

By Nitansha Bansal

For this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, senior cybersecurity executives share their insights into the evolution of their roles.

Cybersecurity

The 5×5

May 1, 2024

The 5×5—The XZ backdoor: Trust and open source software

By Nitansha Bansal, Stewart Scott

Open source software security experts share their insights into the XZ backdoor, and what it means for open source software security.

Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Feb 28, 2024

The 5×5—Alumni perspectives on Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge

By Nitansha Bansal, Isabella Wright

Alumni of Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge share their experiences, and discuss the impact of such simulated exercises to prepare for real life cyber attacks.

Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Jan 24, 2024

The 5×5—Forewarned is forearmed: Cybersecurity policy in 2024

By Nitansha Bansal, Trey Herr

Members of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative team discuss the regulatory requirements and emerging technology they are closely following in 2024, and forewarn of the year ahead.

Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Dec 13, 2023

The 5×5—2023: The cybersecurity year in review

By Simon Handler

A group of Atlantic Council fellows review the past year in cybersecurity, which organizations and initiatives made positive steps, and areas for improvement going forward. 

Cybersecurity National Security

The 5×5

Nov 29, 2023

The 5×5—Veteran perspectives on cyber workforce development

By Simon Handler, Nitansha Bansal

In honor of National Military Veterans and Families Month, a group of veterans discuss their transitions from the military to the cyber workforce and suggest ways to improve the process for others. 

Cybersecurity National Security

The 5×5

Oct 27, 2023

The 5×5—The cybersecurity implications of artificial intelligence

By Maia Hamin, Simon Handler

A group of experts with diverse perspectives discusses the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Sep 20, 2023

The 5×5—Bridging the divide: Cyber conflict in international relations

By Simon Handler

Researchers discuss the relationship between the cyber policy and academic communities, and share their advice for those interested in breaking into each community.

Cybersecurity National Security

The 5×5

Aug 21, 2023

The 5×5—Cloud risks and critical infrastructure

By Simon Handler

Experts share their perspectives on the challenges facing cloud infrastructure and how policy can encourage better security and risk governance across this critical sector.

Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection

The 5×5

Aug 3, 2023

The 5×5—Cyber conflict in international relations: A policymaker’s perspective

By Simon Handler

Current and former policymakers address cyber conflict’s fundamental place in international relations, their recommended readings, and ideas for how policymakers and scholars can more effectively engage one another.

Cybersecurity National Security
Load More

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, part of the Atlantic Council Technology Programs, works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to help shape the conduct of statecraft and to better inform and secure users of technology.

learn more

Content

Blog Post

Sep 15, 2022

Policy hackers take Vegas

By Will Loomis, Safa Shahwan Edwards, Trey Herr, Stewart Scott, and Sarah Powazek

Every year, in the early August heat, thousands of hackers from around the world head to Las Vegas, Nevada for a series of cybersecurity conferences known as Hacker Summer Camp. This year, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative – and a few friends – decided to ship out to see what all the hype is about.

Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Aug 15, 2022

The 5×5—The US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cybersecurity relationship

By Simon Handler

Five experts share their insights on the future of US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cybersecurity cooperation.

Cybersecurity East Asia

The 5×5

Jun 29, 2022

The 5×5—Cybercrime and national security

By Simon Handler, Liv Rowley

Five experts weigh in on emerging trends in cybercrime and their impacts on national security. 

Cybersecurity Intelligence

The 5×5

May 12, 2022

The 5×5—Reflections on trusting trust: Securing software supply chains

By Simon Handler

Five experts discuss the implications of insecure software supply chains and realistic paths to securing them. 

Cybersecurity Defense Technologies

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Apr 29, 2022

The 5×5—Addressing the global market for offensive cyber capabilities

By Simon Handler

Five experts unpack the global market for offensive cyber capabilities and the implications associated with the proliferation of hacking tools.

Conflict Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Mar 21, 2022

The 5×5—Russia’s cyber statecraft

By Simon Handler

Five experts share their perspectives on what recent cyber developments related to Russia's war in Ukraine indicate about Russian cyber behavior.

Belarus Conflict

The 5×5

Feb 28, 2022

The 5×5—What’s in a cyber strategy?

By Simon Handler

What’s in a cyber strategy, how should one be created, how can observers gauge its effectiveness, and how might such a strategy be reflected in real-world conflicts?

Conflict Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Dec 21, 2021

The 5×5—Hindsight 2021: Cybersecurity is hard

By Simon Handler

We brought together a group of distinguished experts to unpack the year that was and provide an outlook on the cyber policy challenges that lie ahead.

Conflict Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Dec 9, 2021

The 5×5—The state of cybersecurity in Latin America

By Simon Handler

Experts provide insights into the current state of cybersecurity in Latin America, how capacity and cooperation could be improved, and what the future holds for the region.

Caribbean Conflict

The 5×5

Sep 29, 2021

The 5×5—The future of cyber diplomacy

By Simon Handler

We brought together experts with a range of perspectives to discuss cyber diplomacy and what the future of responsible cyber statecraft looks like.

Civil Society Conflict
Load More