Workshop
Defensive Frontlines:
Strengthening Cyber Resilience in Evolving Threat Landscapes
16th of January 2025 | Bucharest, Romania
Organised by The Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
About The Event
The pace of the evolution of digital technology shows no signs of slowing. What will the future of cyber threats look like, and what will be the optimal response to them?
It would be prudent to consider the following: The future of cyber threats is no longer the exclusive domain of science fiction. It is becoming an inevitable frontier in the realms of cyber warfare, cyber intelligence and cyber psychology aimed to hack organisations and human behaviour. Consider a hypothetical scenario in which hackers are able to exploit
neural interfaces, potentially leading to the manipulation of visual perception or even the exertion of control over an individual’s actions. This is not a mere possibility; it is a tangible reality, towards which technology is inexorably progressing. The land of possibilities is a realm replete with unknowns that could potentially give rise to unprecedented chaos,
apprehension, and peril.
It is not merely a question of what is feasible; The question thus becomes one of awareness and preparedness for the imminent developments. In a world where every advance brings new vulnerabilities, how can individuals and communities protect themselves? How might we ensure the continued safety of individuals and organisations when the pace of technological advancement outstrips the capacity of existing measures and regulations to keep pace with it? The future is not a distant phenomenon; it is, in fact, imminent. This consequently gives rise to a wholly novel reality that we are ill-advised to ignore.
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This workshop is specifically designed to equip stakeholders from a range of sectors with the knowledge and skills required to acknowledge and respond effectively to the rapidly evolving cyber threats they face, while also identifying and exploiting opportunities. This foresight training programme is not a conventional course of study. It constitutes a call to action.
Participants will undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the current cyber landscape, addressing potential scenarios that could soon become reality, and assessing possible policy responses. This will enable them to equip themselves with the tools and foresightoriented
mindset needed to enhance resilience.
The workshop will be structured into four principal sections. The first of these will comprise an expert-led session on the evolution of cyber threats. The remaining three sections will be dedicated to foresight activities. The workshop will comprise a STEEP (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political) analysis exercise, a scenario planning foresight and innovative resilience policy research.
It is also of significance to acknowledge that this workshop will serve as a foundation for the subsequent creation and expansion of a dedicated network of stakeholders from both the defence and civilian sectors. This is consistent with the preceding webinars and workshops conducted as part of the ECYBRIDGE project, which is funded by the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL-ECCC-2023-DEPLOY-CYBER-04).
It thus follows that the workshop is aligned with the overarching goal of the ECYBRIDGE project, which is to facilitate the establishment of a network of stakeholders from both the defence and civilian sectors. The overarching aim of the project is to ensure that the insights and connections made during the entire ECYBRIDGE project, including this workshop, are sustained and expanded upon. Such an approach will foster long-term synergies that will contribute to the cyber security and resilience of the EU.
Where
Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town, Strada Doamnei 12, 030055, Bucharest, Romania
Event Schedule
(EET, Bucharest Time)
08:30 - 09:30
Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:00 - 09:15
Opening Remarks
Ambassador Lucian Fătu
President, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre, Romania
Prof. Gabriel Raicu
Rector, Constanta Maritime University, Romania
ECYBRIDGE Project Director
Dr Niculae Iancu
Vice-President Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Romania
ECYBRIDGE Project Consortium Coordinator
09:15 - 10:00
Expert-Led Session on Cyber Threat Evolution
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This session will provide an overview of emerging cyber threats, with a particular focus on recent examples drawn from ongoing cyber conflicts. The session will focus on the innovative tactics, techniques and procedures employed by adversaries and their implications for national security. The discussion will emphasise the necessity of enhancing national and cross-border cybersecurity resilience in order to protect critical infrastructure and maintain public trust in the face of a hostile cyber landscape. Moreover, the importance of cross-border collaboration in order to enhance cybersecurity will be emphasised. By examining successful case studies, it will be demonstrated how collaboration between nations, agencies and sectors serves to enhance cybersecurity defences. Such examples may include the United Nations’ norms of responsible state behaviour, the European Union’s initiatives against ransomware attacks, and joint response teams for large-scale breaches.
Furthermore, the session will address the impediments to collaboration, including legal differences and data sovereignty. Furthermore, it will put forth pragmatic strategies, such as the implementation of shared training programmes, the establishment of standardised incident response protocols and the conduct of regular joint simulations. Finally, attendees will gain a foundational understanding of cyber resilience. This will emphasise its status as a proactive, organisation-wide endeavour that integrates technical, procedural and human elements.
Moderator
Gabriela Matei
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
Panellists
Hristian Daskalov, PhD
Chairman of the Board at the European Digital Innovation Hub "Trakia" (CYBER4All STAR)
Andrei Ioniță
Regional Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Accounts, Bitdefender
Daniel Leu
Researcher, Cyber Security Cluster of Excellence (CYSCOE)
Gabriel Puiu
Managing Editor, Zamolxis
Johannes Steger
Managing Editor, Tagesspiegel Backgrounds Cybersecurity
10:00 - 10:15
Coffee Break
10:15 - 12:30
Strategic Foresight Exercise: STEEP Analysis Workshop
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This session will facilitate the identification and discussion of the key factors that shape the cyber landscape. It will draw on the diverse experiences of participants and insights from previous speakers, including those with expertise in cyber security, military personnel, policy advisors, and academics. This will facilitate a multifaceted approach to the examination of cyber threats, response strategies and policy implications. By fostering a dialogue between civilian and defence perspectives, this workshop will elucidate the challenges and opportunities for collaboration across sectors. The diversity of participant backgrounds, encompassing the private and public sectors, academia, and nongovernmental organisations, will contribute to a comprehensive range of perspectives,
thereby enriching the analysis and fostering a holistic dialogue on cyber resilience.
Lead Facilitators
Valentin Ene
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
Gabriela Matei
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch Break and Networking Session
13:30 - 15:00
Strategic Foresight Exercise: Scenario Planning Workshop
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This session will facilitate the development of comprehensive scenarios centred on key themes of cyber resilience. The themes under consideration include emerging threats, defence innovations, influence operations and infrastructure vulnerabilities. The session begins with
an introductory presentation on the value of scenario planning in the context of cybersecurity and defence. Subsequently, the participants engage in group work, during which they develop comprehensive scenarios centred on key themes such as emerging threats and infrastructure vulnerabilities. Each group, comprising six members, will
construct a single scenario, deriving insights from a preceding STEEP analysis. The exercise culminates in the presentation of the scenarios by the groups, after which a discussion is held to identify common themes and actionable insights for enhancing cyber resilience across sectors.
Lead Facilitators
Assoc.Prof. Eduard-Cristian Popovici, PhD
Telecom Department, POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest
Johannes Steger
Managing Editor, Tagesspiegel Backgrounds Cybersecurity
15:00 - 15:15
Coffee Break
15:15 - 16:45
Foresight Workshop: Innovative Resilience Policy Research
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This session will evaluate the efficacy of an innovative resilience framework through qualitative interviews, with the aim of identifying opportunities and strategies for enhancing innovation while managing risks. This concept, termed “innovative resilience”, posits that resilience is
contingent upon the simultaneous adoption of technological innovation and organisational adaptability, thereby underscoring the individual’s role in technological development. It reflects the capacity of civil defence organisations to harness digital innovation while effectively addressing the risks associated with emerging technologies, particularly in the domain of cybersecurity. The achievement of innovative resilience necessitates the implementation of proactive measures aimed at enhancing efficiency and adaptability in the face of uncertainty, coupled with the formulation of strategies that not only facilitate the management of crises but also engender new opportunities. It is our contention that the
testing of this innovative resilience model is both timely and essential. This will facilitate the formulation of a policy framework for cybersecurity requirements pertaining to the planning, design, development, and maintenance of digital products in civil defence, in alignment with the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
Lead Facilitator
Paul Mândraș
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
Arpad Todor, PhD
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
16:45 - 17:00
Closing Remarks
This session will examine the utility of foresight as a means of evaluating and anticipating emerging threats and complex, evolving cyber landscapes.
Lead Facilitator
Marilena-Jeana Cîmpineanu, PhD
Director, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
On-line Participation
Organiser
Venue
Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Old Town
Strada Doamnei 12, 030055, Bucharest, Romania