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 Simple Security Update Could Have Prevented Ransomware Attack

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 Simple Security Update Could Have Prevented Ransomware Attack

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 Simple Security Update Could Have Prevented Ransomware Attack

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

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2017

A Simple Security Update Could Have Prevented Ransomware Attack

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A cyberattack that has crippled 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries could have been prevented had the victims conducted a simple security update. “One of the lessons learned here is that people just do not patch their systems,” said Dmitri Alperovitch, a nonresident senior fellow in the Cyber Statecraft Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

In the News

May 15, 2017

Woods in The Guardian: The NHS Got Lucky – For Now. Cyber-Attacks Will Only Get Worse

By Beau Woods

Read the full article here.

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

In the News

May 15, 2017

Corman Quoted by E&E News on “Ransomware” Cyberattack

By Joshua Corman

Read the full article here.

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

In the News

May 15, 2017

Woods Joins WSBTV on Recent Global Cyberattack

By Beau Woods

Watch the full interview here.

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

NATOSource

May 5, 2017

New Cyber Campaign Netrepser Compromised More than 500 Ministries and Departments Worldwide

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

Researchers have unearthed a new cyber espionage campaign that has compromised more than 500 government ministries and departments worldwide — by hiding in plain sight

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

NATOSource

May 5, 2017

Germany Wants to Destroy Foreign Servers Carrying Out Cyber Attacks

By Andrea Shalal, Reuters

The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency accused Russian rivals of gathering large amounts of political data in cyber attacks

Cybersecurity Germany

New Atlanticist

May 3, 2017

Cyber War’s Terror Trinity: Means, Motive, and Opportunity

By Ian Fairchild

In March of 2003, I commanded an EC-130 Compass Call, an aircraft configured to perform tactical command, control, and communications countermeasures, over the skies of Iraq. My crew’s mission was to jam enemy communications and help allied forces preserve Iraq’s oil infrastructure. During these missions, we positioned ourselves some distance from the intended target, while […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 26, 2017

A Decade After “Web War 1,” Former Estonian President Blasts EU Cyber Inertia

By Teri Schultz

Even as the pervasive and destructive capacity of cyberattacks becomes ever more evident with the alleged Russian meddling in European and American politics, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a former president of Estonia, marvels at the European Union’s under-performance in dealing with the threat—and he’s pointed in his criticism.  “I think the [European] Commission, in particular the […]

Cybersecurity Northern Europe
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/50714/photos/42502

NATOSource

Apr 26, 2017

Responding to Russia’s ‘Hybrid’ Threat

By Franklin D. Kramer and Lauren M. Speranza, U.S. News and World Report

Since its takeover of Crimea in 2014, Russia has become increasingly emboldened

Cybersecurity European Union
http://www.fmn.dk/eng/TheMinister/Pages/minister-of-defence-claus-hjort-frederiksen.aspx

NATOSource

Apr 24, 2017

Denmark: Russia Hacked Our Defense Ministry for Two Years

By Reuters and Copenhagen Post

From Reuters: Russia has hacked the Danish Defense and gained access to employees’ emails in 2015 and 2016

Cybersecurity Intelligence
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Experts

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Staff

Jen Roberts

Associate Director

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Cybersecurity French

Staff

Audrey Roh

Program Assistant

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Cybersecurity Japan

Fellow

Matthew Rose

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Arms Control Climate Change & Climate Action

Fellow

Todd Rosenblum

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

Fellow

Megan Samford

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Cybersecurity Technology & Innovation
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