Written by Marcin Grajewski,

Cyber-security can be defined as the protection of computer systems and mobile devices from theft and damage to their hardware, software or information, as well as from disruption or misdirection of the services they provide. Cyber-crime and cyber-attacks have become a growing threat to governments, businesses and individuals as digital technologies advance. There have also been allegations of cyber-espionage, proliferation of fake news and misuse of the social media in some electoral campaigns. The European Commission updated the European Union’s cyber-security strategy in September 2017, to promote cyber-resilience and joint response across the bloc.
This note offers links to reports and commentaries from some major international think-tanks and research institutes on cyber-security and relations issues. More reports on the topic can be found in a previous edition of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking’, published in February 2017.
The ‘known unknowns’ of Russian cyber signalling
Council on Foreign Relations, April 2018
Fighting fake news: Caught between a rock and a hard place
European Council on Foreign Relations, March 2018
Europe’s cyber problem
Centre for European Reform, March 2018
Non-proliferation regime for cyber weapons: A tentative study
Instituto Affari Internazionali, March 2018
The future of political warfare: Russia, the West, and the coming age of global digital competition
Brookings Institution, March 2018
Significant cyber incidents
Center for Strategic and International Studies, March 2018
The next Russian attack will be far worse than bots and trolls
Brookings Institution, March 2018
Offensive cyberattacks would need to balance lawful deterrence and the risks of escalation
Chatham House, March 2018
The West’s confusion over Russia’s cyberwars
Carnegie Europe, March 2018
EU cybersecurity and the paradox of progress
Centre for European Policy Studies, February 2018
Cybersécurité des infrastructures énergétiques: Regards croisés Europe/États-Unis
Institut français des relations internationales, February 2018
EU cyber partnerships: Assessing the EU strategic partnerships with third countries in the cyber domain
Egmont, February 2018
Economic impact of cybercrime: No slowing down
Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 2018
Hacking for influence: Foreign influence activities and cyber-attacks
International Centre for Defence and Security, February 2017
The Global Risks Report 2018
World Economic Forum, February 2018
No meeting of minds in Munich over cyberattacks
Carnegie Europe, February 2018
Cyber-diplomacy: The making of an international society in the digital age
Egmont, January 2018
Cybersecurity of nuclear weapons systems: Threats, vulnerabilities and consequences
Chatham House, January 2018
Cyber mercenaries and the crisis in Ukraine
Council on Foreign Relations, January 2018
Reforming the U.S. approach to data protection and privacy
Council on Foreign Relations, January 2018
‘Mind hacking’: Information warfare in the cyber age
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, January 2018
Cyber threats to democratic processes
Institute for National Security Studies, December 2017
EU–NATO cybersecurity and defense cooperation: From common threats to common solutions
German Marshall Fund, December 2017
Asian cybersecurity futures: Opportunity and risk in the rising digital world
Observer Research Foundation, December 2017
Grid security is national security: Cyber threats to energy infrastructure and cities
Chicago Council on Global Affairs, December 2017
Democracy’s eleventh hour: Safeguarding democratic elections against cyber-enabled autocratic meddling
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, November 2017
Main cyber threats now coming from governments as “state actors”
European Institute, November 2017
Cheap havoc: How cyber-geopolitics will destabilize the Middle East
German Marshall Fund, November 2017
The future of EU Defence: A European space, data and cyber agency?
Istituto Affari Internazionali, October 2017
Future war NATO? From hybrid war to hyper war via cyber war
GLOBSEC Policy Institute, October 2017
The defence-security nexus: Towards an EU collective security
European Political Strategy Centre, October 2017
Raising the consequences of hacking American companies
Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 2017
Democracy and cybersecurity
Brookings Institution, September 2017
Digital disinformation: A primer
Atlantic Council, September 2017
Controlling chaos: How Russia manages its political war in Europe
European Council on Foreign Relations, September 2017
Europol: The internet organised crime threat assessment (iOACTA) 2017
The Hague Security Delta, September 2017
The UN GGE is dead: Time to fall forward
European Council on Foreign Relations, August 2017
Strengthening the EU’s resilience in the virtual domain
Wilfried Martens Centre, August 2017
Weeding out fake news: An approach to social media regulation
Wilfried Martens Centre, August 2017
EU cyber diplomacy requires more commitment
Clingendael, August 2017
Globally, people point to ISIS and climate change as leading security threats: Concern about cyberattacks, world economy also widespread
Pew Research Center, August 2017
Good neighbors make good security: Coordinating EU critical infrastructure protection against cyber threats
GLOBSEC Policy Institute, August 2017
Making Europe a data economy: A new framework for free movement of data in the digital age
Lisbon Council, July 2017
Cyber attacks: Understanding the basics
European Council on Foreign Relations, June 2017
The great unravelling: Four doomsday scenarios for Europe’s Russia policy
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, June 2017
Cybercrime and the digital economy in the GCC countries
Chatham House, June 2017
Building an effective European cyber shield: Taking EU cooperation to the next level
European Political Strategy Centre, June 2017
Why we need a Transatlantic charter for data security and mobility
Chatham House, June 2017
Meeting the Russian hybrid challenge: A comprehensive strategic framework
Atlantic Council, May 2017
Advancing human security through artificial intelligence
Chatham House, May 2017
Can Europe deal with cyberattacks?
Carnegie Europe, May 2017
Europe’s digital power: From geo-economics to cybersecurity
European Council on Foreign Relations, April 2017
The enemy has a voice. Understanding threats to inform smart investment in cyber defence
New America Foundation, February 2017
Read this briefing on ‘Cyber-security‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
[…] institutes on cyber-security and related issues. More reports on the topic can be found in a previous edition of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking’, published in April […]