National Security and the Cyber Threat Landscape

Issue Brief Mar 21, 2025

To win the AI race, the US needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy

By Joseph Webster

To ensure US AI leadership, the United States must harness all forms of energy, allow a level playing field, and remove red tape constraining the buildout of critical enablers, especially transmission lines and grid enhancing technologies.
Artificial Intelligence China
National Security and the Cyber Threat Landscape

MENASource Feb 26, 2025

How the Houthis’ strikes on US MQ-9 Reaper drones serve a wider regional agenda

By Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco

The United States needs to adjust its drone deployment strategy to ensure that MQ-9 Reapers are less vulnerable to the militant group’s attacks. 
Defense Policy Defense Technologies
National Security and the Cyber Threat Landscape

New Atlanticist Feb 18, 2025

What’s missing from the AI debate? Patience.

By Trey Herr

The AI sector is evolving quickly, fueled by a self-reinforcing cycle of investment, commentary, and ambition. In this race for compute, patience is important to sorting out sustainable innovation from speculative excess.
Artificial Intelligence Defense Technologies

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

Event Recap

Nov 10, 2015

National Security and the Cyber Threat Landscape

By Andrew Alvarado

At a talk hosted at the Atlantic Council on November 10, 2015, the Hon. John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the US Department of Justice, discussed the current national security threat landscape and recent trends in the US government's approach to disrupting cyber threats. The discussion was moderated by Benjamin Wittes, Editor in Chief at Lawfare.

Cybersecurity
Former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, Feb. 13, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 27, 2015

Carl Bildt Warns of Continuous Cyber Conflict

By Carl Bildt, Project Syndicate

In a way, we are already in a low-level continuous conflict in cyberspace.

China Cybersecurity
Sierra class Russian sub, June 1, 1994

NATOSource

Oct 26, 2015

Russian Ships Near Data Cables Are Too Close for US Comfort

By David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

Russian submarines and spy ships are aggressively operating near the vital undersea cables that carry almost all global Internet communications, raising concerns among some American military and intelligence officials that the Russians might be planning to attack those lines in times of tension or conflict.

Cybersecurity NATO

In the News

Oct 24, 2015

Healey on Risk Nexus Report

By Jason Healey

The Boston Globe quotes Cyber Statecraft Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Jason Healey on the costs and benefits of the internet and data as reported in the joint Atlantic Council and Zurich Insurance Group study, Risk Nexus: Beyond Data Breaches: Global Interconnections of Cyber Risk:

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Oct 23, 2015

Taking on Cyber Threats Together

By Alejandro Alvarez

Increased cooperation between the public and private sector is essential to tackle growing issues with big data security, experts and analysts agreed at a symposium on big data and cybersecurity on Oct. 22 at the Atlantic Council. The all-day event, “Big Data, Bad Actors,” was jointly produced by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on […]

Cybersecurity National Security

Webcasts

Oct 22, 2015

Big Data, Bad Actors

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Big Data, Bad Actors, a conference produced by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and Thomson Reuters, will take place at the Atlantic Council’s headquarters (1030 15th St., NW, 12th Floor, West Tower Elevator, Washington, DC 20005) from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on October 22. 8:30 – Introduction and Cross-Border Data […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

Cyber Risk Wednesdays

Oct 15, 2015

Overcome by Cyber Risks?

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Newspaper headlines inundate us with stories about massive data breaches, disruptive cyberattacks, and espionage against government agencies and companies. With risks mounting, a new Atlantic Council report Overcome by Cyber Risks? Economic Benefits and Costs of Alternate Cyber Futures, published in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group and University of Denver’s Pardee Center for International Futures,uses […]

Cybersecurity
Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin's War in Ukraine

Report

Oct 15, 2015

Hiding in plain sight: Putin’s war in Ukraine

By Maksymilian Czuperski, John Herbst, Eliot Higgins, Alina Polyakova, Damon Wilson

Drawing upon open source information, Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin's War in Ukraine provides irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine.

Conflict Disinformation

Webcasts

Oct 15, 2015

Overcome by Cyber Risks?

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Note: We apologize for any inconvience. The webcast will be available after today’s event.  Please join the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security on October 15 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. for a discussion on the implications of our groundbreaking report Risk Nexus: Overcome by Cyber Risks? Economic Benefits and Costs of Alternate […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense
Russian President Vladimir Putin, August 20, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 13, 2015

US Concerned About the Kremlin’s Ties to Russian Cyber Gangs

By Cory Bennett, The Hill

In Russia, “there are private actors, there are government actors, and there are some that have almost a contractual relationship with the government,” said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

China Cybersecurity
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Experts

Advisory Council member

Sheffy Kolade

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Africa Entrepreneurship

Advisory Council member

Kaylin Marcotte

Global Advisor, Women for Prosperity

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Entrepreneurship United States and Canada

Staff

Urmita Chowdhury

Assistant Director, Trainings and Competitions

Cyber Statecraft Initiative

Bengali Cybersecurity

Millennium fellow

Zeina Boustani

Director, Strategy & Operations, Mastercard

Millennium Leadership Program

Human Rights Middle East

Millennium fellow

Tatiana Sharpe

Founder and CEO, Global Impact Network Inc

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Education

Millennium fellow

Tao Tan

Senior Managing Director

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific
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Events

Online Event Tue, July 22, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

What new geopolitical shifts mean for the South Caucasus
Civil Society Conflict Corruption Democratic Transitions
Online Event Wed, July 23, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

An inside look at Russian abuses against Ukraine’s frontline communities
Conflict Drones Europe & Eurasia Human Rights
Public Event Wed, October 8, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Energy & Defense Summit
Defense Policy Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security