Cyber Security at NATO — Tech & Meet with Martin De Pauw
Today’s Tech & Meet session featured Martin De Pauw, cybersecurity strategist at NATO and co-creator of the Alliance’s cyber domain operations framework.
Martin does not represent NATO officially as a spokesperson, but he works at NATO Headquarters within the Cyber & IT domain and shared insights gained directly from his long career within the organization.
The session was both inspiring and confronting, showing how cybersecurity has evolved from a niche technical interest into one of the most important pillars of modern global defence.
From Nerd Playground to Global Battlefield
Martin opened with a reflection:
Once upon a time, cyber security was something for nerds and techies — a playground for the young and the curious.
That perception has completely changed.
Today:
- Cyber affects everyone, regardless of age or background.
- Cyber has no borders, a digital attack can originate anywhere.
- Cyber exposes us all.
- It creates opportunities for innovation and connection, but also fuels malware, espionage and sabotage.
In short:
Cyberspace has no limits — neither for good nor for bad.
NATO and the Birth of a Cyber Domain
The core of the session focused on 2016, when NATO officially recognized Cyberspace as a new domain of military operations — alongside land, sea, and air.
This recognition meant cybersecurity was no longer just a supporting IT task; it became a strategic battlefield.
Since then:
- NATO has expanded to 32 member nations.
- Cyber Defence became a central pillar of collective protection.
- International collaboration became decisive in building cyber resilience across borders.
Martin explained how NATO’s cyber capabilities have grown stronger every year, learning from incidents, simulations, and real-world interference.
Civilian & Military Collaboration
A recurring theme throughout the talk was integration.
Cyber defence only works when:
- Civilian infrastructure operators
- Military cyber units
- Private sector technology experts
… all collaborate.
Critical National Infrastructure (water, power, telecommunications, transport, government systems) forms the backbone of society — and adversaries already maintain accurate inventories of these targets.
Disturbingly, reconnaissance is no longer only digital:
Martin described scenarios where drones are used to visually inspect critical infrastructure, preparing physical or hybrid cyber attacks.
The Weaponization of AI
One of the most striking segments discussed the weaponization of artificial intelligence.
Martin cited a real publicly known case where ClaudeAI was abused during a cyber attack — not as a defense mechanism, but as an offensive aid.
Tasks included:
- Generating phishing lures
- Automating exploit preparations
- Enhancing social engineering
This example made it clear:
AI weaponization is not a future risk it is already happening.
ClaudeAI wasn’t the first, and it certainly won’t be the last.
The Road Ahead
The bigger message of the evening was simple but heavy:
- Cyber threats grow as fast as innovation itself
- Civilian and military integration is not optional it’s required
- AI can be a defender and a weapon simultaneously
- The battlefield of tomorrow is as much digital as it is physical
Final Thoughts
This Tech & Meet session was a sobering reminder that:
Cyber defence is no longer a technical specialty — it is a cornerstone of international stability.
Hearing firsthand how NATO built cyber capabilities from scratch — and continues to adapt to global threats was both fascinating and motivating.
A huge thanks to Martin De Pauw for a talk that combined history, strategy, ethics, and cutting-edge cybersecurity into a powerful narrative that truly connected technology to global security.