Today we see constant friction in cyberspace. Yet while cyber defence is part of NATO’s core task of deterrence and defence, there has been speculation across external academic and policy communities on the nature of NATO’s role in the cyber domain. This talk aims to dispel such ambiguity. It will clarify NATO’s approach to cyber defence by outlining the key tenets of NATO’s Comprehensive Cyber Defence Policy. The policy focuses NATO’s actions on protecting its own networks, operating in cyberspace (including through the Alliance’s operations and missions), helping Allies to enhance their national resilience and providing a platform for political consultation and collective action.
The talk will situate NATO’s current positioning in the broader context of strategic competition in cyberspace.
We will then take a forward-looking approach to set out NATO’s vision on proactive cyber defence across the Alliance, as part of efforts to ensure NATO evolves to remain fit for purpose as adversaries evolve their technologies. In so doing, Amy will outline the importance of several key areas of work for NATO, including enhancing military-civil cooperation, engaging with the private sector, and integrating emerging and disruptive technologies into cyber defence activities.
Amy Ertan is a Cyber and Hybrid Policy Officer at NATO Headquarters, where she supports the development of cyber policies and initiatives across the Alliance. Previously, Amy was a Cyber Strategy Researcher at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, a Cybersecurity Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and held cybersecurity roles across the private and public sector.
Her broader research interests in cyber strategy and emerging security challenges have led to publications on topics including military exercising, offensive cyber operations, and human aspects of cyber security. Amy holds a PhD in Information Security from Royal Holloway University of London, where her research focused on the security implications of artificial intelligence in military contexts.