NISA Winter Session: Cyber security (11-15 January 2016)

11-15 January 2016 | Baku, Azerbaijan

CONCEPT NOTE

Cyber domain is playing an increasingly important role in the contemporary world affairs and in our daily lives, as individuals, government and private organizations rely more on cyber technologies for implementation of routine tasks as well as for ensuring efficiency and productivity of respective operations. In an era of enhanced globalisation, extant complex web of transnational relations and interconnectedness of global economic, trade, transport, military, infrastructure and other sorts of networks, cyber realm and associated software capabilities acquire particular prominence in terms of management, control and coordination of multiple international, transnational as well as national activities.

However, positive impacts brought by the advanced cyber technologies are also accompanied by critical vulnerabilities that modern states and societies have to face. Often, cyber infrastructures become easy targets for attacks by malicious actors pursuing multiple criminal purposes. Such illegal activities carry the purpose of shattering the pillars of order and control within the respective entities and formations, and spreading the sense of insecurity. Susceptibility to cyber incursions and attacks is further aggravated by the transnational nature of threats and their high adaptability to new cyber technologies that render unilateral efforts ineffective in the fight against cyber challenges.

The above-mentioned issues raise serious concerns about the sustainability of positive contributions by cyber technologies and the necessity of nullifying their negative consequences. Sound cyber security that would ensure freedom to innovate while sanctioning mal-action is therefore to be promoted and achieved. As a less regulated domain that operates across national boundaries, in order to succeed cyber security requires mature concepts, flexible national policies and agile actions with effective public-private and international-local partnerships to be pursued at the same time.

The upcoming Winter Session organized by NATO International School of Azerbaijan (NISA) aims at discussing fundamental issues related to cyber security, analyzing case-studies, respective strategies and policies. The Session will seek to assess the role of international law in regulation of cyber domain, including prevention and punishment of cyber crimes and other illegal activities. The discussions will also include cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, cyber defense, critical infrastructure protection, financial security, protection of citizens and their privacy, vulnerabilities of small countries to cyber threats and other related topics.

This event will bring together notable academics and practitioners from governments, international institutions and think tanks as well as graduate students, researchers, early to mid-career academics, experts and practitioners, interested in international relations, international law, politics and economics, including in issues related to Euro-Atlantic area.

Successful applicants will thus have a sound command of English and show academic credentials necessary to benefit from the course that will help them actively contribute to discussions. Participants should be highly motivated and demonstrate critical achievements and activities in related fields.

NOTE:

The online application is available below. Please, fill it in and submit the form. You will receive a notification.

NISA provides board and lodging throughout the Session and refunds up to the 50 percent of international travel.

However, visa fee, if applies, is not reimbursed, and transportation from/to the airport is not provided.

Please note that working language of the event is English.

The shortlisted candidates will be informed by December 25 of 2015.

The online application is due
- December 14 of 2015 for international applicants
- December 18 of 2015 for local applicants

To apply: http://www.nisa.az/?page_id=2202