At the George C. Marshall Center Program on Cyber Security Studies (PCSS), over 70 cybersecurity professionals delved into the complex legal and geopolitical landscape of cyber warfare. The day’s discussions featured Richard Magnan, a professor of Law and Cyber Security at the Marshall Center, and Piret Pernik, a researcher from NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
Magnan tackled the evolving legal challenges that cyber operations pose under international law. He highlighted the lack of clear legal definitions surrounding cyberattacks, especially those with physical consequences. Citing real-world incidents such as the Viasat satellite disruption during the early stages of the Ukraine conflict, Magnan argued that these digital operations often serve as precursors or even substitutes for traditional military action.
“We are shaping the international law of the future by how we respond or fail to respond to cyber aggression,” he said. Magnan emphasized that frameworks like NATO’s Article 5 and the United Nations Charter offer insufficient guidance when applied to modern cyber incidents. His message was clear: global legal standards must evolve to address cyber threats as acts of war and tools of diplomacy alike.
Cybersecurity as a Tool of Global Power and Influence
Following Magnan’s legal deep dive, Pernik shifted the conversation to the geopolitical dimension of cyberspace. She described how cyber operations have transformed into instruments of statecraft, used to gain strategic advantage rather than cause immediate destruction. “Cyber operations today are about shaping the environment, establishing presence, influence, and strategic leverage,” she said.
Pernik outlined the ways in which both state and non-state actors leverage disinformation campaigns, intellectual property theft, AI capabilities, and digital infrastructure investments to assert digital sovereignty. She warned that control over cyberspace is fast becoming central to national security strategies, especially as global powers race to dominate the technological future.
Her Marshall Center Program revealed that cyber competition now extends far beyond isolated incidents or criminal activity—it’s a sustained effort by nations to mold the global digital order in their favor. This evolution in cyber tactics, she noted, requires a corresponding shift in international cooperation and policy.
Building Global Cyber Expertise and Collaboration
The insights shared by Magnan and Pernik align with the broader mission of the PCSS: to develop a shared, interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity among allied and partner nations. The program aims to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and policymaking by equipping participants with the tools to assess cyber threats, formulate national strategies, and foster multinational cooperation.
Over the course of three weeks, participants will engage in lectures, case studies, and simulations to deepen their understanding of cyber law, technology, policy, and strategy. The Marshall Center Program emphasis is not only on education but also on long-term collaboration between cybersecurity leaders.
By bringing together diverse perspectives from legal experts, researchers, and frontline professionals, the PCSS continues to serve as a vital platform for shaping the global response to cyber threats in an increasingly contested digital world.
