The panel focused on practical steps that countries can take, nationally and collectively, to strengthen resilience and coordinate more effective responses to hybrid threats such as cyber attacks and disinformation.

Hybrid threats target trust: cyberattacks, disinformation and disruptions in supply-chain are designed to slow societies down, paralyse decision-making and exploit the openness of democratic societies. Overly securing societies poses risk of doing the attackers’ work for them, Liina Areng highlighted. She also underlined that resilience must involve the whole of society, because major incidents often begin with something small like insecure device, weak password or oversight. Thus, awareness and basic cyber hygiene form the first line of defense and can measurably reduce incidents.

Liina Areng also stressed that knowing your risks and simplifying defenses is essential. National-level risk awareness, baseline security standards for critical services and lesser institutional complexity all contribute to stronger preparedness – what can’t be seen can’t be defended. Resilience, she highlighted, starts with basics and practical steps such as using licensed software, tested crisis plans and clear responsibility.

Cyber resilience at the EU level is increasingly collective. It’s strengthened though NIS2, coordinated information-sharing and 5G security measures. Liina Areng noted that technology, including artificial intelligence alone isn’t enough to solve challenges: governance, regulation and transparency remain decisive.

Panel session was moderated by Jamil Anderlini from POLITICO, Dr Yuh Jye Lee from the National Security Council of Taiwan and Henry Collis from the Centre for Information Resilience.

TSD is a leading global policy summit on critical and emerging technologies, bringing together political leaders, senior officials, industry innovators and civil society to discuss how to harness technological opportunities while managing the risks. The forum is designed to amplify diverse perspectives and broaden public debate. TDS highlights policy thinking from Southeast Asia and Oceania, creating space for new partnerships between governments and industry and deepening existing cooperation. TSD 2025 explored major trends across AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, biotechnology, space, hybrid warfare, climate and critical infrastructure. Discussions will examine how technology is reshaping workforces, shifting economic and strategic power, affecting supply chains and transforming defence.