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

Jun 20, 2023

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

By Simon Handler

Leading scholars provide insights on cyber conflict’s role in international relations, how the topic can best be taught to students, and how scholars and policymakers can better incorporate each other’s perspectives.

Cybersecurity National Security

The 5×5

May 30, 2023

The 5×5—Cross-community perspectives on cyber threat intelligence and policy

By Simon Handler

Individuals with experience from the worlds of cyber threat intelligence and cyber policy share their insights and career advice.

Cybersecurity Intelligence

The 5×5

May 3, 2023

The 5×5—Cryptocurrency hacking’s geopolitical and cyber implications

By Simon Handler

Experts explore the cybersecurity implications of cryptocurrencies, and how the United States and its allies should approach this challenge.

Cybersecurity Digital Currencies

The 5×5

Mar 22, 2023

The 5×5—Conflict in Ukraine’s information environment

By Simon Handler

Experts provide insights on the war being waged through the Ukrainian information environment and take away lessons for the future.

Conflict Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Feb 23, 2023

The 5×5—Strengthening the cyber workforce

By Simon Handler

Experts provide insights into ways for the United States and its allies to bolster their cyber workforces.

Cybersecurity Education

The 5×5

Jan 30, 2023

The 5×5—China’s cyber operations

By Simon Handler

Experts provide insights into China’s cyber behavior, its structure, and how its operations differ from those of other states.

China Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Dec 14, 2022

The 5×5—The cyber year in review

By Simon Handler

A group of experts reviews the highs and lows of the year in cybersecurity and look forward to 2023. 

Cybersecurity Internet

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Nov 16, 2022

The 5×5—The rise of cyber surveillance and the Access-as-a-Service industry

By Simon Handler

Experts discuss the rise of cyber surveillance and the impact of the Access-as-a-Service industry on the United States and its allies.

Cybersecurity Intelligence

The 5×5

Oct 26, 2022

The 5×5—Non-state armed groups in cyber conflict

By Simon Handler

Five experts from various backgrounds assess the emerging threats posed by non-state armed groups in cyber conflict.

Conflict Cybersecurity

The 5×5

Sep 28, 2022

The 5×5—The Internet of Things and national security

By Simon Handler

Five experts from various backgrounds assess the national security challenges posed by IoT and discuss potential solutions.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

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.

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