Dr László Vikman, Lieutenant Colonel and lecturer at the Department of Law of Modern Technologies and Cybersecurity of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Széchenyi István University, participated in the International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCon), one of the NATO cyber defence community’s most prestigious international events, held in Tallinn, Estonia.

Organised annually since 2009 by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), CyCon is one of the world's foremost conferences on cyber defence. Its distinctive interdisciplinary approach examines digital security not only from technical perspectives but also through legal, strategic, political and military lenses. This year's conference brought together government officials, military personnel, researchers and industry experts from nearly 50 countries to discuss the most pressing challenges facing cyberspace.

CyCon, organised by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, is one of the world's leading international conferences on cyber defence.

This year's four-day event focused on the application of artificial intelligence in cyber defence. In addition to attending keynote presentations, participants took part in interactive tabletop exercises that simulated real-world scenarios, encouraging them to evaluate possible responses while considering their respective national legal frameworks and operational procedures. One of the conference's key conclusions was that artificial intelligence can serve as a highly effective tool in cyber defence, but it cannot replace human decision-making. Experts also agreed that technological development continues to outpace international legislation, making the consistent application of existing legal frameworks more important than ever.

Dr László Vikman, Lieutenant Colonel and lecturer at the Department of Modern Technologies and Cybersecurity Law of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, represented Széchenyi István University at the CyCon international cyber defence conference in Tallinn.

"The presentations exploring the relationship between cyberspace and international law were particularly insightful," said Dr Vikman. "A notable example was the discussion of the Viasat cyberattack, which targeted a satellite communications network at the outset of military operations against Ukraine. The case clearly demonstrated how cyber threats can affect critical infrastructure. Another important initiative presented at the conference came from the International Committee of the Red Cross, which aims to ensure that infrastructure protected under international law—such as hospitals and their information systems—can be clearly identified and recognised in cyberspace."

A significant part of the conference programme also addressed hybrid threats and information operations. Speakers highlighted that the objective of many cyberattacks is not necessarily to disrupt IT systems but to undermine public trust, create uncertainty or influence democratic processes. A recurring message throughout the event was that these complex challenges can only be addressed through close international cooperation among technical, legal, military and strategic experts.

According to Dr Vikman, the knowledge and practical insights gained at the conference will also benefit teaching and research at Széchenyi István University. "Technology law and cybersecurity are fields in which an international perspective is indispensable," he noted. "It is essential that our students become familiar not only with legal regulations but also with the real-world dilemmas and case studies that leading experts around the world are addressing today."