Nations and cyber warfare will be the first in a series of three Round Tables on cyber security Cityforum is developing in association with the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), whose outputs on Cyber Security earlier this year have been influential in the formulation of UK Government Policy. 

This first Round Table in the series examines the vulnerability of countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States to attack from other countries and looks at the protection of critical national infrastructure and other areas of vulnerability.  The complexities of the cyber world make attribution a particular problem and the resultant challenges are to be explored by corporate and other experts.  Progress in attribution is vital because cyber defensive measures alone cannot be the answer.  There is, for example, a requirement for deterrent capability.  International cooperation to reduce threats and efforts to establish treaties and rules governing the conduct of states in cyber space (such as a ‘Cyber Geneva Convention’) is urgently needed, but it can only be effective if sanctions underlie them.  At present international cooperation is very limited and inward looking stances are inhibiting effective arrangements, even among allies. 

The round table looks at these problems and the difficulties confronting those, such as the authors of the CSIS Report, who see the equivalent of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as a potential way ahead.  As matters now stand, there is the risk of unconstrained cyber warfare with the likelihood of significant damage. It is open to countries such as the UK, the US and their allies to build the consensus necessary in terms of policy, means and resources to make cyber space governable. The forum examines the steps that are necessary, affordable and proportionate to deliver the necessary deterrent power in cyber space.

Round Table Two – Cyber Threats from terrorists and ideologues / from large scale and organised criminal enterprises is intended to look at the vulnerabilities, the defensive measures and at the international collaborations and rule sets that are required for the future protection of national interests.  Round Table two has the support of, and is under discussion with Home Office, OSCT.

Round Table Three – Cyber threats: global best practice.  This forum, to be held in September, will examine how countries big, medium sized and small are dealing with cyber crime.  It will stress the benefits that can be gained from work in the corporate community, research organisations in universities and the public sector.  This forum is being developed with initial inputs from the Metropolitan Police and other forces.

Our research and discussion with senior figures in each of the three main areas confirms that general and comprehensive discussion of the whole cyber security problem would not enable an examination of sufficient depth.  While there are clear linkages in the areas we are considering and they cannot, therefore, be considered wholly in isolation, it is agreed that there is sufficient material for separate forums that acknowledge and explore the vertical domains, before analysing and identifying inter connections horizontally.  The role of individuals (hackers and script kiddies) in these threat domains certainly requires some measured analysis. 

Each agenda will explore the threats, policy requirements and responses without straying into areas of excessive sensitivity.  The objective of each will be to contribute an authoritative assessment of what can be realistically achieved.

Costs
Standard Fee: £680 +VAT @ 17.5% - Total: £799
Public Sector Fee: £340 +VAT @17.5%  - Total: £399.50