The Cyber Statecraft Initiative 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. CSI is dedicated to convening a diverse network of passionate and knowledgeable contributors, bridging the gap among technical, policy, and user communities. Check out our past events here and make sure to keep an eye out for our future events by following us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

2024 events and programs

The United States International Cyberspace & Digital Policy Strategy

The Atlantic Council’s tech programs, including the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the Democracy + Tech Initiative, and GeoTech Center, hosted a panel discussion on the US International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy (ICDS).

The panel discussion was moderated by Atlantic Council’s Graham Brookie, Vice President and Senior Director, and featured Nathaniel C. Fick, Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the United States Department of State; Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the United States Department of Homeland Security; and Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator.

The Secure By Design Imperative: A One-Year Retrospective

THU, APRIL 25, 2024

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative hosted a virtual panel discussion about the Secure by Design (SBD) initiative from the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Persistent insecurity poses a threat to US national security and personal privacy alike, with businesses and end users continuing to face risks from insecure software. CISA’s Secure by Design initiative seeks to move security earlier in the product lifecycle for organizations that produce and sell software, reducing vulnerability and increasing the resilience of software to make it safer for its many users. This discussion posed the above questions to speakers including Lauren ZabierekSenior Advisor, CISA; Jack CableSenior Technical Advisor, CISA; Dan LorencCEO and Co-Founder, Chainguard; and Sarah NovotnyFounder, Klever Consulting. The event also featured pre-recorded remarks from Jen EasterlyDirector, CISA.

2023 events

Joining Forces: Veteran Perspectives on Cyber and Tech Workforce Development

FRI, NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative hosted a panel discussion focusing on transitioning veterans who are looking to pursue careers in cyber and cyber policy. The session included a group of veteran speakers from a variety of different services and backgrounds who can talk through their own transition, highlight useful programs and opportunities, best practices, potential challenges, and answer questions from the group questions. 

Before the panel, Craig Newmark, Founder, Craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies and Creator of the Cyber Civil Defense Initiative and Trey Herr, Director, Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Atlantic Council discussed the importance of integrating veterans into the technical and policy areas of the cybersecurity workforce and broader initiatives focused on transitioning veterans.

The National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy: Unleashing America’s Cyber Talent

MON, JULY 31, 2023

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative hosted an in-depth discussion on the opportunities, goals, and anticipated challenges with the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy. The event featured a keynote address from Kemba Walden, Acting National Cyber Director, and opening remarks from Rob Shriver, Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Diana Burley, Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Professor at American University; Dr. Kathi Hiyane-Brown, President of Whatcom Community College; Camille Stewart Gloster, Deputy National Cyber Director for Technology and Ecosystem Security, with more speakers to be announced.

Getting to Fault Tolerant: Policy for Secure and Resilient Cloud Computing

MON, JULY 17, 2023

As cloud computing becomes a critical dependency for finance, defense, and healthcare infrastructure, its security and resilience are a question of US national security. How can policymakers keep pace with a novel set of risks emerging from the widening adoption, size, and complexity of cloud infrastructure?

On Breaking Things: Melding Cyber and Kinetic in Conflict

THU, APRIL 20, 2023

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative hosted a panel discussion on lethal outcomes of cyber operations, coordination between cyber and kinetic forces, and integration of cyber options in future warfare within the context of larger intelligence and military behaviors.

Rebalancing responsibility: Implementing the National Cybersecurity Strategy

THU, APRIL 6, 2023

Top United States government leaders discuss and answer questions on the latest US cyber strategy, what the National Cybersecurity Strategy offers to the public, and how it will be implemented in a panel discussion.

Past events

Protecting the Global Marine Transportation System Against Cyber Threats

FRI, APRIL 1, 2022

A panel discussion on lethal outcomes of cyber operations, coordination between cyber and kinetic forces, and integration of cyber options in future warfare within the context of larger intelligence and military behaviors.

Building the Picture Bit-by-Bit: Why the US Needs a Bureau of Cyber Statistics

MON, AUGUST 2, 2021

As attacks on US critical infrastructure and government agencies are on the rise, a standardized dataset on America’s cybersecurity would be invaluable to protecting both networks and citizens.


The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, under the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), 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.