The deadly triptych of Duqu, Stuxnet and Flame ushered in a new era where nation states have declared their intent to engage in cyber sabotage and even attack as a means of projection of power.   ICD will hold a small closed session in partnership with Interos Solutions, Inc. on August 29 to begin our exploration of this critical issue.  A brief report will be available which summarizes the conversation.

We are privileged to welcome General Michael V Hayden  to this discussion.

Questions include:

• What are the implications of cyber arms dealing from an international policy and technology perspective?
• How will the international community determine the appropriate use of these weapons?
• What international law regulates the appropriate response to completely overt and utterly hostile intent? What is a legitimate right to protect in cyber?
• What should the cyber norms of engagement be?
• Will US and other national defense contractors compete in a new global arms race to develop and sell cyber weapons?
• How can the US and the international community restrict the sale of cyber weapons?
• Will the US restrict defensive measures against its own cyber weapons?
• How should states react to intrusions in their own cyber domains now? When is equivalence to kinetic attack ascribed?
• How will the insurance industry underwrite the risks and assign responsibility for the range of damages from cyber malware to cyber attacks?
• Should there be alerting mechanisms between friendly states to avoid the spread of weaponized malware to their own infrastructure?

ICD roundtables are small (under 25), by invitation and off the record to allow participants – all current public and private sector experts – the freedom to voice their individual ideas and opinions.  Each roundtable includes technology and policy leaders from defense, law, finance, energy, telecommunications, transport, insurance, ethics and legislation.   Our purpose is to stimulate the genesis for in depth research and analysis with ICD partners as well as throughout the cyber community.

“The International Cybersecurity Dialogue was founded to fill a gap – a safe place for policy and technology to meet and (create) solutions that measurably move the needle for international cyber security practices and policies. We have gathered several internationally renowned advisors to begin the roundtable with.  We’re now looking for sponsors to support our initial roundtable events; people who want to get engaged early to help fill this gap and support the conversation we need to be having to protect our global economy.  With additional resources, we can construct the program formats, get the right people in the room, and start the impactful conversation.”

Dr. Steven P. Bucci, ICD Board Member

Senior Research Fellow for Defense and Homeland Security, The Heritage Foundation