RUSI and National Cyber Force renew strategic partnership

Offensive cyber operations are defined by the 2022 UK National Cyber Strategy as those ‘adding, deleting or manipulating data on systems or networks to deliver a physical, virtual or cognitive effect’.

The Cyber Effects Network brings together representatives from industry, academia and Government to share their perspectives and develop thinking on offensive cyber. The UK Cyber Effects Network is administered by RUSI and sponsored by the National Cyber Force.

Highlights from the first operational year of the Cyber Effects Network included workshops on the role of the private sector in the UK’s offensive cyber ecosystem, cyber campaigning and opportunities and challenges for research on cyber effects, a full-day scenario exercise, a research symposium and a Fellowship Programme for eleven early career professionals, many of whom also published a Cyber Effects Perspective on a topic of their choice.

Open conversation

Air Vice-Marshal Tim Neal-Hopes, commander of the National Cyber Force, said: “The UK Cyber Effects Network offers us the chance to blend experience and history with contemporary thinking to safely chart the next steps in encouraging open conversation about the strategy, concepts and doctrine that guide cyber effects operations for a confident, capable and resilient UK.”

The Cyber Effects Network has announced applications for the next cohort of the Fellowship Programme. The cohort will also be expanded in size to allow for more Fellows. Successful applicants will deepen their knowledge and engage in discussions on cyber effects.

Fellows will grow their networks with like-minded researchers and practitioners, enhance writing and policy skills and engage with practitioners from the UK’s cyber effects community.

Jamie MacColl, senior research Fellow in cyber and tech at RUSI, observed: “The Fellowship Programme was a great success in the first year of the UK Cyber Effects Network. We learned as much from the Fellows as they learned from us. We hope the next cohort can match their enthusiasm and insight.”

Edited collection

The Cyber Effects Network is due to publish an edited collection of original papers that address conceptual, doctrinal, legal, policy, capability and technological aspects of cyber effects operations. Following publication, RUSI will then launch a new Call for Abstracts for the next edition.

Applications to join the ten-month Fellowship Programme can be submitted through the RUSI website at www.rusi.org The deadline for Fellowship applications has been sent as 5 June.