Gathering on Evolving Cyber Threats: The Core Topic of CyCon Cyber Defense Conference
Cyber security's top dogs have descended upon Tallinn for CyCon 2024, a pivotal international conference on cyber conflict which kicked off on May 29! This stirring event gathers trailblazing experts hailing from over 40 nations, eager to share their cutting-edge discoveries with the brave defenders of our digital territories.
Mart Noorma, director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (no slouch himself), effused, "CyCon is the place where nations' cyber defenders get a glimpse of our latests and greatest accomplishments in the field." He continued, "The emphasis this year lies on AI and cloud technologies. While these tools can be a boon to a responsible defender, they can just as easily be twisted into a cyber weapon against innocent populations."
The sixteenth iteration of this conference attracts approximately 700 participants from all corners of the globe, shedding light on the rapid evolution of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, and space tech, as well as their impact on modern conflicts. The war in Ukraine also draws attention for not only altering our battlefield landscape, but also the legal framework that governs our digital environment.
CyCon 2024's motif, "Over the Horizon," acknowledges the need not only to anticipate what's just beyond the technological horizon, but also to gaze further ahead as advancements happen at breakneck speeds.
The four-day event features around 100 esteemed cyber experts, who present their insights, debate heated topics, and let their minds run wild brainstorming solutions for the challenges the future holds.
Star-studded keynote speakers grace the stage, including David van Weel, the NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber; Nathaniel Fick, the US ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy; Dr. Paul Vixie, an internet pioneer; Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft's General Manager for Cybersecurity Policy and Protection; Lieutenant General Michael Vetter, the German defense ministry's director general for cyber/IT; and Professor Herb Lin, a cybersecurity guru at Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation and Hoover Institution.
The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, an accredited competency center, think tank, and training institute for cybersecurity, orchestrates the exhilarating event. With 32 countries like the US, the UK, Sweden, Finland, and Germany, along with Estonia, footing the bill, and seven non-NATO states as contributing participants, this conference has a truly global feel.
For more up-to-the-minute information, be sure to check out the NATO CCDCOE conference portal. But here's a sneak peek: historically, conference themes have focused on cyber law, policy and strategy, emerging threats, and the importance of international collaboration.
- The government of Estonia is hosting CyCon 2024, an international conference on cyber conflict in Tallinn, with a focus on AI and cloud technologies.
- Mart Noorma, director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, emphasized the importance of CyCon as a platform for nations to showcase their latest cybersecurity advancements.
- Over 700 participants from 40 nations will attend CyCon 2024, including renowned cybersecurity experts like David van Weel, Nathaniel Fick, Dr. Paul Vixie, Amy Hogan-Burney, Lieutenant General Michael Vetter, and Professor Herb Lin.
- The four-day event includes presentations, debates, and brainstorming sessions on the challenges the future holds regarding cybersecurity and technology.
- The conference motif, "Over the Horizon," signifies the need to anticipate and prepare for technological advancements that are rapidly evolving.
- The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, a global think tank and training institute for cybersecurity, organizes the conference, with support from several countries and contributing participants.
