In a recent interview with New Statesman Spotlight, NATO’s Cyber Security Centre head, Ian West, discussed the evolution of cyber warfare and the challenges faced by cybersecurity defenders. West highlighted the 2007 cyberattack on Estonia as a turning point, demonstrating the potential of cyberattacks in conflict. Since then, cyber threats have continued to outpace defenses, with the UK government recently recognizing AI as a strategic threat.
West, who began his career in the Royal Air Force, now oversees the protection of NATO’s critical network infrastructure. He noted that modern warfare, as seen in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, blends conventional and cyberattacks, a form of hybrid warfare.
NATO’s cybersecurity defenses, first deployed in 2007, are continually evolving to keep up with threats. These range from ransomware to denial-of-service attacks on NATO’s websites, to the creation of fake sites. West revealed that NATO’s network experiences over a billion suspicious events daily, with 20-30 requiring intervention.
Collaboration with the private sector is vital for defense, with most of NATO’s capabilities provided by industry. NATO has launched an innovation accelerator, Diana, to foster cybersecurity innovation. However, the private sector also sources offensive capabilities, available for purchase on the dark web.
West expressed concern about the existential risks of AI, believing the security community is slightly behind the technology. He advocates for infrastructure and regulation that encourages “AI for good” while countering “AI for bad”.
International cooperation on cybersecurity is complicated by states like Russia and China, known sources of cybercrime. West emphasized the importance of cooperation and information sharing among “coalitions of like-minded nations” to respond to online threats effectively.
Source: New Statesman
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