Frequently Asked Questions

The CyberPeace Institute was founded on 26th September 2019 to limit the harms of  cyberattacks, assist vulnerable communities and to promote responsible behavior in cyberspace.

Initially, our primary focus was in response to the needs of the healthcare sector as it was subjected to cyberattacks at a time of enormous need during the COVID-19 pandemic.  A ‌series‌ ‌of‌ ‌operational initiatives‌ tailored for the healthcare sector were launched to ‌provide ‌assistance to organizations and to call for a stop to cyberattacks against healthcare facilities, which caused harm to people and society as a whole.

Activities also focus on assisting humanitarian NGOs to provide them with cybersecurity and other support to prepare and recover from cyberattacks targeting them.  We also analyze cyberattacks affecting vulnerable communities in order to learn about threat actors and their tactics, to advocate for an end to cyberattacks and for accountability, and to provide legal and policy expertise during negotiations at relevant diplomatic fora.

The CyberPeace Institute was established, and is headquartered, in Geneva, Switzerland. This enables us to engage with the international organizations, other Non-Governmental Organizations and the numerous internet governance organizations and academic institutions based in Switzerland. The neutrality and humanitarian tradition of Switzerland is another important reason for the Institute to be based in Geneva.

The Institute also has a presence in Africa and Latin America through its CyberPeace Builders programme.

We are funded by voluntary donations from companies, foundations, philanthropy and private individuals.  

 When the CyberPeace Institute was founded in 2019 it received initial funding from several corporate donors and foundations. Initial donors were the Hewlett Foundation, Mastercard, Microsoft, the Ford Foundation and Facebook.  

 The Institute independently fundraises to support its operations, accepting donations that are compatible with its mission, Principles and standards of due diligence. 

In 2022, there are 30 staff employed by the Institute, of which 60% are women and 40% men and from 13 different nationalities.

Donations to the CyberPeace Institute are used to support providers of essential services to the most vulnerable members of our society, to prepare for and recover from cyberattacks, including humanitarian NGOs and organizations in the healthcare sector. Cyberattacks can have a devastating impact on their beneficiaries and patients, putting their rights and even lives at risk.  

Your support also serves to provide evidence-based knowledge and foster awareness of the impact of cyberattacks on people, to empower and give a voice to victims of cyberattacks, as well as to raise awareness of the gaps in international laws which need to be closed to provide better protection for people and society as a whole.

The CyberPeace Institute does not assist individual victims of cyberattacks.  We assist NGOs and other organizations working in critical sectors where the impact of cyberattacks can impact whole communities. When we are approached by individuals requesting help or support, we endeavor to propose other organizations that may be able to help.

 

Implementing a four-day workweek can be motivated by several reasons, and the decision to do so often depends on the goals and priorities of a company or organization. After in-depth research to understand how the Four-Day Workweek model could improve employee productivity and well-being at the CyberPeace Institute, we chose to  introduce the four-day workweek during the summer 2023.

Through this shift we aim towards a better work-life balance of our employees, while also attaining an increased productivity through improved time management. On top of these benefits, a Four-Day Workweek also helps to attract and retain talent.

The initial weeks represented an adjustment phase: recalibrating our workflows and through ongoing communication and collaboration, we have discovered innovative ways to maintain productivity while embracing a reduced workweek. Since then our workweek spans 32 hours from Monday to Thursday.

If you have any question on our four-day workweek model, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected]

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