Cybersecurity

In cyberspace, adversaries are growing more sophisticated and outpacing advancements in policy, education, and defense technologies. In an era of great-power competition, it is vital that policy makers and tech experts understand the underlying factors and motivations impacting the field of cybersecurity. With a focus on strategy and foresight, the Atlantic Council shifts attention from singular incidents to better understand larger cyber campaigns.

Recent analysis

A candle in the dark: US national security strategy for artificial intelligence

Report Jan 29, 2026

The US needs a cybersecurity roadmap

By Franklin D. Kramer, Robert J. Butler, and Melanie J. Teplinsky

A national cybersecurity strategy will require an operational road map.
Cybersecurity Security & Defense
A candle in the dark: US national security strategy for artificial intelligence

Report Sep 30, 2025

404 Accountability not found: Spyware accountability through software liability

By Sara Ann Brackett, Jen Roberts

This report proposes a legislative safe harbor framework that would incentivize technology companies to engage in spyware accountability.
Cybersecurity United Kingdom
A candle in the dark: US national security strategy for artificial intelligence

Issue Brief Sep 10, 2025

Mythical Beasts: Diving into the depths of the global spyware market

By Sarah Graham, Jen Roberts, and Nitansha Bansal

The second edition of the Mythical Beasts project assess how the global spyware market has developed and changed over the past year.
Cybersecurity

Programs

The Atlantic Council Technology Programs comprises five existing efforts—the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), the GeoTech Center, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the Democracy + Tech Initiative, and the Capacity Building Initiative. These operations work together to address the geopolitical implications of technology and provide policymakers and global stakeholders necessary research, insights, and convenings to address challenges around global technology and ensure its responsible advancement.

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Content

Candle in the Dark Destruction Cole

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Dec 10, 2019

A candle in the dark: US national security strategy for artificial intelligence

By Tate Nurkin, Stephen Rodriguez

AI is expected to have a transformational impact on the future of geopolitics, defense, and security. In this fluctuating environment, where the US is engaged in a high-stakes competition with is near-peer adversaries, and AI is enabling paradigm-shifting changes in public and private sector operations, how should the US respond?

Artificial Intelligence China

In the News

Dec 8, 2019

Manning quoted in The Global Times on U.S.-China relations

By Atlantic Council

China Conflict

In the News

Dec 7, 2019

Watts in Lawfare

By John T. Watts

Cybersecurity English

Press Release

Dec 4, 2019

Atlantic Council’s Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge returns to London for its third year

By Atlantic Council

BT Tower to host the competition, as British Telecom returns as Strategic Partner WASHINGTON, DC – December 4, 2019 –  The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative is hosting the third annual Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge in London on February 17-18, 2020. The competition will once again take place at BT Tower with our 2020 Strategic […]

Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Nov 22, 2019

What do we know about cyber escalation? Observations from simulations and surveys

By Benjamin Jensen and Brandon Valeriano

Do cyber operations alter how states respond to international crises in a way that creates incentives for decision makers to cross the Rubicon and use military force to settle disputes? This question is central to current cyber strategy debates and the idea of persistent engagement and defending forward in cyberspace. The answer is surprising: no. Based on the evidence, cyber operations offer a valuable escalatory offramp.

Cybersecurity

In the News

Nov 4, 2019

Handler in Nextgov: The zero-day war? How cyber is reshaping the future of the most combustible conflicts

By Atlantic Council

Israeli-Saudi security cooperation quietly incubated over mutual intolerance toward an expansionist Iran is blossoming into a gradually open relationship, with cyber at its heart. Bonds such as these, forged behind closed doors, provide options for de-escalatory approaches to regional conflict.

Cybersecurity Israel

In the News

Nov 2, 2019

McFate quoted in the Telegraph on cyber warfare

By Atlantic Council

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

In the News

Oct 30, 2019

Bell quoted in Smart Energy International on the new Siemens and the Ponemon Institute report, decarbonization, and vulnerabilities to cyberattacks.

By Atlantic Council

Cybersecurity Energy & Environment

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Oct 28, 2019

The zero-day war? How cyber is reshaping the future of the most combustible conflicts

By Simon Handler

Conventional wisdom would suggest that scaled-up capabilities, growing competition, and the proliferation of malware across cyberspace presents a legitimate risk of escalation in state conflict, transcending the cyber domain toward the kinetic. However, recent history has shown that states have more often availed themselves of their offensive cyber arsenals to achieve surprisingly de-escalatory effects.

Cybersecurity Iran

Press Release

Oct 16, 2019

StratComDC: Global Forum on Strategic Communications

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council will host its third annual Global Forum on Strategic Communications (StratCom 2019) in Washington, DC on October 23-24, 2019.

Cybersecurity Disinformation
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Experts

Staff

Kitsch Liao

Associate Director

Global China Hub

China Security & Defense

Fellow

Will Loomis

Nonresident Fellow

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Cybersecurity

Fellow

Oumou Ly

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

Ronald A. Marks

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

Fellow

John Speed Meyers

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Cybersecurity Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Mike Minihan

Distinguished Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Artificial Intelligence China
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