HCSS is proud to have hosted its symposium “From Cloud to Community: Shaping the Future of Digital Defence” on 18 June in The Hague. This second edition built on the success of our first event in collaboration with Microsoft in Brussels on March 10, but pushed the conversation further — moving beyond NATO’s digital capabilities to tackle the big question: How do we build a future of digital defence that works for both soldiers on the battlefield and citizens at home?
Event Recap:
Dr. Tim Sweijs, Research Director at HCSS, opened the day by reminding us that the speed of technological change demands that we link strategy to innovation faster than ever before. He called on all stakeholders to bridge policy, technology, and society to ensure that digital transformation strengthens, rather than weakens, our security.
Our keynote speaker, Koen Gijsbers, Senior Advisor at FGS Global and former NATO CIO, sounded an urgent call to action: “We are witnessing a new revolution in military affairs — and we need to act NOW!”
Sharing insights from decades of operational and IT leadership, he urged NATO and its partners to learn from the past — and from Ukraine — to avoid repeating old mistakes. He outlined why new approaches to interoperability, resilience, and security must be tested in real conditions, not just on paper, and explained how stronger ties with startups and industry innovators will be essential if we are to adapt faster than our adversaries. His key takeaway: ask yourself — can your capability work with partners, survive disruption, and remain secure by design?
In Panel 1, we asked: Is military interoperability in the digital age a blessing or a curse? Moderated by Dr. Tim Sweijs.
Dr Simona R. Soare (Lancaster University) shed light on how AI is already transforming battlefield intelligence and decision-making — and stressed that getting this right will be critical to ensure digital tools strengthen alliances instead of creating new vulnerabilities.
Robert Meeuwsen (Commander, Army Simulation Centre, NL MOD) shared practical lessons from the field on the role of tactical clouds and edge computing — showing how technology can deliver mission advantage if it’s robust, user-friendly, and trusted by those who depend on it.
Ben Crampton (Microsoft) explained how industry is driving innovation in secure, interoperable cloud and edge solutions — and why a deeper, trusted partnership with governments is vital to deliver technologies that meet the complex demands of modern defence.
Panel 2 turned the spotlight to our communities: How do we defend societies from ‘societal warfare’ in an era of digital disruption? Moderated by HCSS Strategic Analyst and GC REAIM Project Coordinator Sofia Romansky.
Dr. Christian Fjäder (Geostrategic Intelligence Group) unpacked how new tactics and tools are targeting critical infrastructure and societal cohesion — highlighting why the public and private sectors must adapt together to stay ahead of evolving threats.
Hans Horan (HCSS) tackled the challenge of balancing freedom and security — and why a whole-of-society approach must manage tensions between privacy, resilience, and protection to build trust and capacity.
Dr. Victoria Vdovychenko (Future of Ukraine Programme) brought the conversation to life with real-world lessons from Ukraine — demonstrating how communities can foster resilience under attack and why layered, adaptable defences are essential.
Michel Rademaker, Deputy Executive Director at HCSS, wrapped up the day with a simple but vital message: the future of digital defence can only be secured through collaboration — across domains, sectors, and borders.
From the cloud to the community, we must move forward with solutions that are interoperable, resilient, and secure by design. The stakes are high, and the time to act is now.
Just before HCSS hosted this event, HCSS Strategic Analyst Dr. Davis Ellison managed to briefly interview three of the speakers about shaping the future of digital defence.
Dr. Davis Ellison speaks to Dr. Victoria Vdovychenko:
Dr. Davis Ellison speaks to Dr. Christian Fjäder:
Dr. Davis Ellison speaks to Dr. Simona R. Soare:
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