“Current dynamics of threats and challenges to cybersecurity of critical infrastructure show that the EU does not have next 10 years for enhancing CII categorizations and specificating general regulatory guidelines for protection of critical infrastructures (CI) from cyber threats. The process should be speeded up and working transborder mechanism in the field of CI cybersecurity should be put in place immediately. This premise is relevant not only for EU, but for Russia as well, particularly since in Russia’s case within this complex process, there is no need to coordinate national approaches at the uppermost, supranational level of regulation.” — Oleg Demidov, PIR Center consultant

“We want our law-enforcement to work effectively and efficiently, to respond to growing risks, which have not been comprehended fully, in a situation where no proper steps to achieve information security are being taken. In most cases public authorities are unable to timely address challenges that arise when the explosive development of new technologies occurs, private sector often reacts faster” – Alexei Kudrin, head of the Civil Initiatives Committee.

“Over the years of our close cooperation, I ascertain that discussions promoted by PIR Center with the involvement of experts from different areas, like national administration, academic and military communities as well as non-governmental pundits, contribute to nonproliferation initiatives and to countering new challenges and threats to peace and security. PIR Center’s brainchild is in high-demand, and the Advisory Board conclusions and recommendations are important for ensuring our country’s interests and security. I acknowledge my willingness to become a member of the Advisory Board and participate in its work” - Victor Vasiliev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian Federation to the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

"There is a general understanding of the need for norms in cyberspace. However, any close-up discussion stumbles against differing views on what exactly these norms should be”, says Alexandra Kulikova, Coordinator of the PIR Center Program “Global Internet Governance and International information Security”, commenting on the Global Conference on Cyberspace in the Hague to Kommersant newspaper.

PIR Center team warmly thanks our friends, partners and colleagues for their kind New Year wishes.

The latest issue of the Security Index journal is partly devoted to the development of the global nuclear energy sector and nuclear infrastructure. Against the backdrop of the oil-and-gas needle and amid the continued devaluation of the Russian currency, the Russian nuclear energy sector seems to offer what may well be the only tangible, comprehensive, and carefully thought-out answer to economic upheavals. This particular branch of the Russian high-tech sector is not a prototype but a working engine.

“The CyberModule classes at the PIR Center International School gave me a powerful professional boost and allowed me to become acquainted with leading Russian information security and internet governance experts.  I especially anticipated lectures with focus on the Runet regulation, analysis of identification on the internet and other topics; such lectures fully lived up to all expectations. I awant to note the importance of the debates and other interactive exercises, which give impetus to further independent study of these issues,” – Olga Bogdanovich, Ph.D. student in the department of Russian, Slavic and General Linguistics at Taurida National V.I.Vernadsky University.

“PIR Center’s Training Course stands out first of all by remarkably high level of professional background of the participants, organizers, and of course, the instructors. The sessions were distinguished by their intellectuality, informative materials, and practical usefulness. Not only such programs are very effective in dissemination of knowledge, but they also are perfect for launching of a real dialogue between young experts, establishing new professional contacts and generating new ideas”, - Vardan Atoyan, Director of National Security Program at the Amberd Research Center, Armenian State Economic University, Yerevan, Armenia.

“Today the victims of sophisticated malwares in the ASEAN region are first and utmost diplomats. Compromise of diplomatic dispatches and other confidential data has become one of the prime goals of malware creators in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia as well as in most countries of the region. The threat of strategic cyber espionage gives a common ground to the ASEAN states and Russia - as Russia also witnesses intensive use of advanced cyber espionage tools against its governmental and scientific institutions, defense and nuclear industry enterprises and aerospace contractors,” - Head of Government Relations and Strategic Projects at Kaspersky Lab Andrey Yarnykh.