Cyber security and resilience: Lessons from Ukraine

Over the past few years cyberspace has changed the way we live, work and communicate. It has become critical to our future prosperity, security and accelerating digital transformation. Cyber threats and attacks now target not only government agencies, but industries such as media, IT/communication, energy, transportation, healthcare, education, organizations of all sizes and individuals. Hostile countries employ cyberspace to gain advantage through various campaigns that include improving intelligence collection, deploying destructive attacks against victims’ networks, and leveraging the full spectrum of information operations to shape public perception on various issues. Given the borderless nature of cyber threats, it is important to consider how to effectively address increasing cybersecurity challenges and build robust cyber resilience.

For this panel, speakers will discuss how a combination of cybersecurity measures and respective procurement reforms can be used to make progress against significant systematic vulnerabilities. More specifically, Dr. Robert Peacock will focus on the cybersecurity measures Ukraine has adopted since the infamous NotPetya attack in 2017, including the overlooked adoption of the independent e-auction tool ProZorro for all public procurement. Though not a single national cybersecurity strategy in North America, Europe or the Global South addresses corruption, Ukraine demonstrates the critical role anti-corruption initiatives can have in mitigating procurement cultures favoring pirated or unsupported network software. Dr. Pavlo Pushkar will offer perspectives on the Council of Europe’s standards and measures that shape the cybersecurity landscape, enhance national capacities, and facilitate international cooperation. His presentation will emphasize the importance of an effective criminal justice response that aligns with the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and its protocols, while ensuring the protection of human rights, adherence to the rule of law, and data privacy. Q&A to follow. The event will be moderated by BKC Fellow Marta Basystiuk.