The war in Ukraine has underlined the significance of private-owned satellite communications for sustaining both the civilian population and the military effort in armed conflict. Despite public statements, the only major malicious cyber operation in this conflict against space infrastructure appears to have been the KA-SAT network attack.

What does it take to target private-owned space infrastructure lawfully? How does the industry prepare for the eventuality of having its infrastructure aimed at by belligerent parties? What should states do in response to malicious activity against commercial satellites?

The perpetual competition between policy and technology rages on. Several NATO members have recently published updated cyber policies, while AI has become more accessible to any and all users. What are the challenges and processes of developing cyber policies and strategy? Do they have the desired results? How does cyber policy affect interstate relationships within the alliance?

Cyber security exercises are essential in preparation for future cyber conflicts by exposing personnel to extraordinary situations. This session explores various aspects of cyber security exercise design, control, and provides insight into evolution of Brazilian exercise Cyber Guardian. 

For years, academics, intelligence services, and private companies have predicted that war would move to the cyber domain. Facing our current reality, with the Euro-Atlantic zone not at peace, has this prediction held true? Has the domain been operationalized? And just what does escalation look like in the cyber domain?  

The evolution of information and communication technologies, together with the proliferation of personal computers and smart devices, has dramatically changed the speed and scale with which content can be disseminated online. While practice shows that states actively engage in information operations, legal scholars are still trying to clarify the limits imposed by international law. 

This panel will offer an insight into the international rules and principles applicable to information operations, explore the strategic use of digital information and information technologies in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and contemplate the implications for the dynamics of war, war narratives and war crimes investigations. 

AI-based solutions have finally escaped the laboratories to become a topic for dinner table conversations. This session will explore the application of AI methods to find malware command and control needles in the network traffic haystack and describe the requirements for future AI models necessary for incorporating them into mission-critical systems. We will also explore the critical but often disregarded topic of the interface between the human operator and AI tool.