Institute for Security and Technology

2025 CyberNextDC Registration Please click the link to complete this form.

IST is going to #CyberNextDC! @megans.bsky.social delivers a keynote on the #RTF's approach to cyber policy, Nicholas Leiserson sits on a vulnerability management panel, while Jen Ellis moderates the Cyber Luminaries panel ft. @joshcorman.bsky.social.
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Navigating the Nexus: New Horizons for Peace & Trade in the South Caucasus The South Caucasus is at a pivotal moment. The recent peace declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan, alongside a new transit route agreement, is poised to reshape the region. Join us for a dynamic…

IST's Dr. Steven Burns is in DC today to join state officials and experts from industry and academia at a USEA forum on the strategic, economic, and humanitarian implications of the recent peace declaration and transit agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
⚡ Learn more: usea.org/event/naviga...

Fuel & Supply Chains – Ensuring reliable access to fuels, components, and critical materials; Infrastructure Modernization – Upgrading generation, transmission, and storage to meet future demand; Resilience – Preparing for disasters and speeding recovery; Security (Cyber-Physical) – Defending against evolving threats in both the digital and physical domains; and Technology & Adaptation – Leveraging AI and innovation while managing new risks.

“From cyber-physical attacks and extreme weather to demand growth and fragile supply chains, our energy supply is under growing strain,” said Dr. Burns. “Energy FIRST is about bringing the right groups together from across the value chain to foresee and address the evolving and escalating risks.”

Announcing the Energy FIRST Initiative at IST, led by Dr. Steven Burns IST is announcing the launch of Energy FIRST, a flagship initiative to fortify the reliability, affordability, and security of the energy systems that power modern life and national defense, led by IS...

Modern life runs on energy. Today, IST is announcing the launch of #EnergyFIRST, a flagship initiative to fortify the reliability, affordability, and security of our energy systems, led by IST VP for Energy & National Security Dr. Steven Burns.
⚡Learn more: securityandtechnology.org/blog/announc...

What Does Ransomware Have to Do with War and Peace: IST’s Contributions to the Final UN OEWG Negotiation Session IST joined the eleventh and final substantive session of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies this week at the UN. While there, we ...

IST Senior Director for International Cyber Engagement Elizabeth Vish and Future for Digital Security Associate Gigi Flores Bustamante attended the event, held on the margins of the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICTs, and reflected on their experience for the #NatSpecs blog.
🛡️ Read more:

Earlier this year, IST, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil and the Organization for American States, previewed the #Brazil Ransomware Task Force report to support counter-ransomware efforts in the Americas.

Digital threats have no regard for borders, which is why IST takes an international, multi-stakeholder approach to combating cybercrime. This #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth, we’re spotlighting some of the work we’ve done on a global scale to help stem the tide of cyber threats. 🧵

Book Talk | The New Nuclear Age: At the Precipice of Armageddon In a world with increasing nuclear dyads, can emerging technologies make us safer – or are we opening Pandora's Box? Join IST in Palo Alto, CA or virtually for a book talk with Ankit Panda.

In a world with increasing nuclear dyads, can emerging technologies make us safer? On 10/23, IST will host author & international security expert @nktpnd.bsky.social in Palo Alto to discuss his book on the new nuclear age & the changing landscape of nuclear security.
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RSVP to SL5 Happy Hour | Partiful There are increasingly some amazing people working in AI security in SF and we need more frequent coordination points! Come join us for a Schelling space for topics in & around Security Level 5! Meet ...

IST’s Security Level 5 team is hosting a Happy Hour in San Francisco next week!

If you are working in AI security and SL5-adjacent issues, join Philip Reiner, Lisa Thiergart, and others next week for dinner, mingling, and lightning talks.
🔐 Learn more:
partiful.com/e/xkJ1hsSoy2...

UN seeks to build consensus on ‘safe, secure and trustworthy’ AI Secretary-General António Guterres said the organization is looking to “move from principles to practice” when it comes to setting global AI standards.

IST Adjunct Fellow Tiffany Saade headed to the UN last week to attend discussions on its efforts to influence global AI policy. The ideas that come out of the process will need incentives built in to facilitate adoption, she told
@cyberscoop.bsky.social.
Read more: cyberscoop.com/un-seeks-con...

The Blueprint presents 24 actionable Safeguards based on the Center for Internet Security Controls that help businesses focus their resources on the critical actions needed to defend against the most common cyber attacks.

90% of small businesses report having been victims of a cyber attack, a Coalition survey found. This #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth, we’re sharing resources to help. The RTF’s Blueprint for Ransomware Defense is an action plan for mitigation, response, & recovery for SMEs.
🛡️ Learn more: bit.ly/42m93Bq

Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards Save the Date to join IST for the Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards in February 2026.

🏆 Register to receive updates on nominations and registration for the #CyberPolicyAwards: cyberpolicyawards.org

Announcing New Members of the Cyber Policy Awards™ Organizing Committee The Institute for Security and Technology is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to the Cyber Policy Awards organizing committee in preparation for the upcoming third annual event.

Ahead of the third annual #CyberPolicyAwards on Thursday, February 5, 2026, IST is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to the Cyber Policy Awards organizing committee! We’re excited to welcome Anjelica Dortch, Alison King, and Shane Tews.
🏆 Learn more:

About the Institute for Security and Technology As new technologies present humanity with unprecedented capabilities, they can also pose unimagined risks to global security. The Institute for Security and Technology’s (IST) mission is to bridge…

IST is dedicated to tackling emerging security threats year round. This October, it’s more important than ever to take the simple, effective steps necessary to keep our homes, business, and schools safe. Follow along and share these tools to help us build a more secure future.
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As tech evolves across the world, so do #cyber threats. This #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth, IST will share practical resources, novel research & critical insights to help individuals, orgs & communities strengthen their #cybersecurity practices. The NCA’s #Core4 highlights tips to #StaySafeOnline.

From Research to Reality: The Security by Design Project By Lawfare Institute

Over the last several years, @lawfaremedia.org, in partnership with @brookings.edu, has led the #SecuritybyDesign project. Tomorrow, Lawfare hosts an event to highlight the project’s key findings. IST Senior VP Lauren Zabierek joins other CISA alums in a panel to chart the path forward.
🛡️ Register:

Texas Rep. McCaul says he won't seek reelection "I'm looking for a new challenge in the same space that would be national security, foreign policy," he said.

As co-founder of the #Cybersecurity Caucus and a key author on the legislation behind major pillars of the government’s cyber work, few legislators have been so influential on cybersecurity policy as Rep. Michael McCaul. Thank you, Rep. McCaul, and congratulations on your retirement!

0012: Do we need to know more about cybersecurity than a re-watch of Hackers and Sneakers? - Academic Distinctions: A Podcast to Make Sense of American Education Zac and Stephanie talk with Senior Director for Preparedness and Response at the Institute for Security and Technology, Michael Klein about the importance of cybersecurity for school systems...

“We're asking school districts every day to defend themselves from transnational criminal gangs,” IST's @michaelfklein.bsky.social sat down with the hosts of @fixingschools.bsky.social to break down the importance of #cybersecurity for school systems and how he practices cyber hygiene.
🛡️ Listen now:

#CISA15 will expire in 7 days. In an op-ed last week, IST CSO @megans.bsky.social argued for Congressional action to preserve the measure, which improves and incentivizes the sharing of cyber threat indicators and other information.
🛡️ Read the full op-ed: nexusconnect.io/articles/rea...

AI powered autonomous ransomware campaigns are coming, say experts CISOs told the best defense is ‘boring cyber hygiene practices.’

Researchers at NYU released a paper claiming to have created a prototype of ransomware orchestrated by AI. How can security experts protect against this next wave of digital attacks? With “‘boring’ cyber hygiene practices,” IST's @tgrossman.bsky.social told @csoonline.bsky.social.
🛡️ Read more:

AI-Enabled Policy Project (AIPP) Convening Artificial intelligence (AI) and policy experts gathered for a working session hosted by the AI-Enabled Policymaking Project to discuss how AI can support policymaking and to build a road map for the ...

Last spring, IST Dep. Director for AI Mariami Tkeshelashvili joined the RAND AI-Enabled Policymaking project working session to discuss how AI might enhance the policy cycle & potential technical roadmaps for AI-enabled policymaking. AIPP's first report recaps the meeting.
🧠 Learn more:

Next up: “Advancing Cybersecurity and Regional Cooperation in the Americas” w/ Andre Molina (Sec. of Cyber & Info Security, Brazil), Saul Kattan Cohen (Advisor on Digital Transformation, Colombia), Sheila Casserly (Schneider Electric), & @megans.bsky.social @istorg.bsky.social

#LATAMCISO2025

How can regional cooperation in the Americas improve #cybersecurity? Tomorrow, IST CSO @megans.bsky.social moderates a panel at Digi Americas #LATAM CISO Summit to discuss how countries can balance info sharing & national security priorities.
🛡️ Learn more: digiamericas.org/events/latam...

Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Command, Control & Communications: A Technical Primer AI has been integral to nuclear weapons systems and operations for decades, but rapidly advancing “novel” models pose unforeseen technical opportunities. For the Institute for Security and Technology’...

🚨 NEW from IST: AI has been integral to nuclear weapons systems and operations for decades, but rapidly advancing models pose unforeseen opportunities and challenges. IST’s Sylvia Mishra & @philreiner.bsky.social co-authored a short primer on 'novel' AI in a nuclear context.
🌐 Read the report:

Creating a Cyber Aware Culture for Local Water Utilities Podcast Episode · Hack the Plant · 09/09/2025 · 28m

New @hacktheplant.bsky.social: @brysonbort.bsky.social and CRI Deputy Managing Director Lessie Skiba sit down to discuss their new program connecting #cyber experts with small and medium sized water utilities to bolster #cybersecurity and resilience.
🎙️ Listen to episode 47:

Hall of Fame - Industrial Cybersecurity Unicorn Bryson Bort - Industrial Cyber Hall of Fame - Industrial Cybersecurity Unicorn Bryson Bort shapes cyber innovation through leadership, policy insight, and ICS security resilience.

IST Adjunct Senior Technical Advisor, Scythe CEO & ICS Village co-founder @brysonbort.bsky.social has been inducted into the Industrial Cyber Hall of Fame! “My focus isn’t just on protecting systems, it’s on building resilience at the national and global level,” he said.
🛡️ Read the full interview:

Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards Save the Date to join IST for the Third Annual Cyber Policy Awards in February 2026.

SAVE THE DATE: the 3rd annual #CyberPolicyAwards will be held on Feb. 5 2026 at the National Press Club in DC! IST is proud to present another year of the premier gathering of the U.S. cyber community & key international partners to recognize those who have driven progress.
🏆 Register for updates:

Next week, IST CSO @megans.bsky.social joins Digi Americas at the #LATAM CISO Summit for a panel on #cybersecurity & regional cooperation. Cross-sector leaders will discuss how LatAm countries can balance info sharing & national security priorities.
🛡️ Learn more: digiamericas.org/events/latam...

National security, competition, and risk reduction: AI at IST Welcome back to the TechnologIST! I’m Lillian Ilsley-Greene, Senior Associate for Communications at IST. As AI models continue to proliferate and gain prominence, what are the cross-sector implication...

As AI models continue to proliferate and gain prominence, what are the cross-sector implications for national security, strategic competitiveness & more? For the TechnologIST, we sat down with IST experts to learn how their work addresses these risks & opportunities.
🗞️ The TechnologIST | AI at IST: