Wicked problems. Novel approaches. Impactful responses.

The Global Security Initiative (GSI) produces mission-relevant approaches and decision support tools to address some of the world’s most vexing and complicated security challenges.

As Arizona State University’s hub for global security research, we leverage the world-class expertise of ASU faculty and GSI’s connections with the global defense, security, development and diplomacy communities to take new approaches toward the world’s wicked problems.

The results are tools, technologies and systems that are impactful, timely and useful to policymakers and implementers.

$34 million+

in research expenditures in FY 2020

More than 150

affiliated faculty representing over 12 college-level units

#3

in the nation for DARPA young faculty awards

Current research priorities

Cybersecurity

Human, artificial intelligence and robot teaming

Narrative, disinformation and strategic influence

Visualization and analytics

Recent news and events

How The Colonial Pipeline Shutdown Highlights Flaws In U.S. Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks have become increasingly more common, but few have impacted daily lives and routines like this one has.

What does that say about how well — or not well — the U.S. is doing in protecting infrastructure? And what can be done better now — and not years in the future?

KJZZ spoke with GSI's executive director, Nadya Bliss, about how the Colonial Pipeline attack affects perception of how important cybersecurity is.

Cybersecurity

Colonial Pipeline hack is latest example of cybersecurity threats to physical infrastructure

GSI's executive director, Nadya Bliss spoke to ASU News about the recent Colonial Pipeline hack and says growing ransomware business model poses a threat to more than just information networks. Bliss shared some insights about who is vulnerable to ransomware and ways to protect data from attack.

Cybersecurity

The Narrative Of Disinformation: ASU Launches Center To Fight Fake News

The concept of disinformation is hardly a new one. Humans have likely tried to persuade each other through than honest approaches since the dawn of the species. But we’ve seen the power of that disinformation grow in the age of social media, and many would argue we have never seen a period quite like the one we just saw during the Trump administration.

The center's new leader, Scott Ruston, spoke to KJZZ about the new Center on Narrative, Disinformation, and Strategic Influence in response.

See more news and events

Mission support

GSI focuses on long-term security needs rather than short-term funding opportunities. Financial support for GSI’s efforts to address these long-term security needs are provided by government, industry and private foundations.

Year in review

This is the new 2020 Year in review which outlines key accomplishments and efforts throughout the year.

2020 in review

PDF files of previous reports.

2019 report 2018 report 2017 report