Publications

Over the years, HCSS has built up an extensive archive of reports, monitors, papers and other publications. We disseminate the results of our research as broadly as possible to benefit the public good. Use the advanced search functions below to browse through our research library, most of which is available as free PDF downloads.

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The Unspoken Guardians of the Internet: Why Non-profit Cybersecurity Matters for Public Safety and Global Resilience

2 Jun 2026

Non-profit cybersecurity organisations are essential to global cyber resilience, public safety, and the continuity of the digital economy, this new HCSS report by Hans Horan, Ron Stoop and Jan Feldhusen shows. Despite protecting critical infrastructure, supporting SMEs, and preventing billions in potential losses, these organisations remain structurally underfunded and under-recognised. The report calls for governments and industry to provide sustained, long-term support for the sector.

HCSS Annual Report 2025

17 Dec 2025

We hereby proudly present the HCSS Annual Report 2025! Our Team’s output has been nothing short of exceptional: we published over 100 reports and articles; we provided over 2000 commentaries for national and international media; we strengthened partnerships with leading institutions worldwide and hosted policymakers from Europe, the Indo-Pacific and beyond; and we welcomed over 2,200 participants at more than 35 events. On behalf of the entire HCSS Team, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Defending the Digital Domain: The effort to build a cyber resilient India 2023 Edition – Updated Version

27 Sep 2024

In the 2022 edition of this report, we covered how India, as the largest and most diverse democracy on earth is in the middle of building security within cyberspace and all other domains. India is currently undergoing efforts to digitise its economy and infrastructure. Consequently, the number of users to be safeguarded by securitisation of the cyber domain is rising rapidly. To become an economically developed digital nation, India must therefore also adopt a holistic approach in tackling challenges to its cybersecurity. Using the findings of the National Cyber Resilience Game and desk research, the paper was updated by participants of the 2023 Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School. This updated 2023 edition concludes by providing three recommendations to improve India's overall security in the digital domain.

Cyber Arms Watch Methodology

29 Jan 2024

HCSS presents: the Cyber Arms Watch monitor, offering a transparency index on the offensive cyber capabilities of states. It compares the degree to which states are transparent about their declared cyber capabilities to outside perceptions of those capabilities.

Cyber Transparency Value Chain: From Awareness and Understanding to Attribution, Monitoring and Sanctioning

16 Jan 2024

Navigating the digital landscape requires a complex balancing act between various interests, threats, and resilience. HCSS and the CyberPeace Institute are working together to increase cyber transparency, to inform policy processes and capacity building efforts, and contribute to accountability efforts. This new joint report provides an overview of the monitors and observatories developed to date by each organisation, to enable a broader understanding of threat actors, the impact and harms of cyber incidents, and accountability efforts related to laws and norms in cyberspace.

Deception as the Way of Warfare: Armed Forces, Influence Operations and the Cyberspace paradox

16 May 2023

Cyberspace proved to be a catalyst to unlock the information environment, taking away restrictions of influence operations via Internet. Nowadays, the capabilities are near-limitless, but governance appears to be the (self-inflicted) limiting factor. While these limitations apply to the Netherlands they do not to others. Peter B.M.J. Pijpers and Paul A.L. Ducheine highlight whether the current cyberspace-induced manipulative influence operations truly differ from the old-school deceptive and misleading operations.  

Defending the Digital Domain: The effort to build a cyber resilient India

15 Feb 2023

As the largest and most diverse democracy on earth the struggle to keep the India secure within cyberspace and all other domains is significant. India is currently undergoing efforts to digitise its economy and infrastructure. Consequently, the number of users to be safeguarded by securitisation of the cyber domain is rising rapidly. To become an economically developed digital nation, India must therefore also adopt a holistic approach in tackling challenges to its cybersecurity.

Preventing the (Un)thinkable: Escalation Scenarios and Risk Reduction Measures for Russia and NATO following the War in Ukraine

14 Sep 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has reawakened thinking in terms of risks and ‘escalation’. NATO as a whole, and NATO-states individually, must keep a balanced position: do not cave to unacceptable threats, as accommodation is a recipe for further escalation from the Russian side.

Aanpak voor het vaststellen van interventienoodzaak en handelingsperspectief ten aanzien van strategische autonomie op cybersecurity

13 Jun 2022

Hoe kan de strategische autonomie op cybersecurity bewaakt worden? En welke beleidsmaatregelen kunnen – en moeten – in dit kader genomen worden? Nederland is een van de meest gedigitaliseerde landen wereldwijd maar daarmee is onze samenleving ook steeds meer afhankelijk geworden van een goed functionerende digitale infrastructuur. Cybersecurity is cruciaal om dit te bewerkstelligen.

The Promises and Perils of a Minimum Cyber Deterrence Posture: Considerations for Small and Middle Powers

6 Apr 2022

The emergence of cyberspace provides small and medium powers with a strategic weapons capability that historically has been beyond their reach. This report explores how this capability can become an indispensable tenet of the deterrence posture of small and medium powers.

Cyberstability Paper Series: New Conditions and Constellations in Cyber

9 Dec 2021

Since the release of the final GCSC report in November 2019, the concept of cyberstability has continued to evolve. A number of new ‘conditions’ are emerging: new agreements on norms, capacity building and other stability measures have solidified. The constellation of cyber initiatives is expanding, underlining the need to connect the traditional state-led dialogues with those of the Internet communities. Gaps continue to close, not only between the global north and south and between technology and policy, but also between the stability in and the stability of cyberspace.

Prioritizing Capacity Building as a Foundation for Cybersecurity and Stability

9 Dec 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series.

Routing Without Rumor: Securing the Internet’s Routing System

9 Dec 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series.

The Pro and Contra of an Incidents at Sea Agreement for Cyberspace

9 Dec 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series.

When Internet Governance Meets Digital Cooperation: Navigating IGF Growth and Development in the Context of an Evolving Internet Governance Ecosystem

9 Dec 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series.

Cybersecurity, Internet Governance, and the Multistakeholder: Approach The Role of Non-State Actors in Internet Policy Making

9 Dec 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series.

The Evolution of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber Issues: From a Marginal Group to a Major International Security Norm-Setting Body

9 Dec 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series. Since the release of the final GCSC report in November 2019, the concept of cyberstability has continued to evolve. A number of new ‘conditions’ are emerging: new […]

Building a Cyberstability Index

1 Nov 2021

The Cyber Peace Institute has published this report elaborated in partnership with GEODE and The Hague Center for Strategic Studies as part of Working Group 5 of the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace.

Red Lines & Baselines: Towards a European Multistakeholder Approach to Counter Disinformation

11 Oct 2021

Disinformation continues to exacerbate existing political polarizations with effects ranging from discrediting measures against the COVID-19 pandemic to inciting mass violence against the very institutions of democracy itself.

Disconnecting from Cyberstability

30 Sep 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series. Since the release of the final GCSC report in November 2019, the concept of cyberstability has continued to evolve. A number of new ‘conditions’ are emerging: new […]

Is There Space for a Digital Non-Aligned Movement?

30 Sep 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series. Since the release of the final GCSC report in November 2019, the concept of cyberstability has continued to evolve. A number of new ‘conditions’ are emerging: new […]

Digital Transformation and Cyberstability: Effects on Economic Development in Africa

30 Sep 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series. Since the release of the final GCSC report in November 2019, the concept of cyberstability has continued to evolve. A number of new ‘conditions’ are emerging: new […]

From Confrontation to Consensus: Taking Stock of the OEWG Process

30 Sep 2021

The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC) and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the first Cyberstability Paper Series. Since the release of the final GCSC report in November 2019, the concept of cyberstability has continued to evolve. A number of new ‘conditions’ are emerging: new […]

Taming Techno-Nationalism: A Policy Agenda

23 Sep 2021

Sensitive technologies are growing to be more and more closely associated with “European strategic autonomy”. But how do techno-nationalists operate, what can the Netherlands do to protect its sizeable R&D infrastructure from their advances, and to what degree should The Hague look to Brussels for guidance and support?

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