Information Warfare and Geopolitical Influence
The pen is mightier than the sword. That used to be a cliche, it isn’t anymore.
Information warfare, including disinformation campaigns, influence operations, cyber operations, psychological Warfare, and coordinated digital messaging, is now shaping geopolitical outcomes before events fully unfold.
In Ukraine, narrative has influenced international support as much as battlefield movement. Around Iran, sentiment shifts in real time, driven by social media posts, responses, and coordinated campaigns that shape perception at scale.
What people believe is no longer a reflection of reality. It is a driver of it.
These operations are not contained in conflict zones. They extend outward, targeting global audiences, shaping public opinion, influencing elections, and driving policy debates across Western nations.
Why Information Warfare Matters Now
Information Warfare (IWAR) is no longer a supporting element of military strategy. It is a primary mechanism for influencing decisions, behavior, and outcomes across both state and non-state actors.
Unlike traditional threats, it does not begin with a single event. It develops through signals, messages, narrative shifts, and evolving perception.
This creates a different kind of risk environment.
By the time a situation becomes visible, the information landscape around it is often already shaped. Organizations, governments, and institutions are then forced to respond within constraints they did not see forming.
Understanding how information operations work, and how influence is built over time, is becoming essential.
Lawrence D. Dietz Representing TAL Global at COSAC 2026
At the upcoming COSAC Cybersecurity Conference, this topic will take center stage.
TAL Global is proud to have Lawrence D. Dietz representing the firm.
A retired U.S. Army Colonel, Dietz brings decades of experience in information operations and strategic communication. He spent 14 years as a subject matter expert at the Department of Defense Information School, where he trained public affairs professionals across all branches of the armed services.
His work focuses on how modern operations leverage the information environment across three key dimensions:
- physical infrastructure
- informational flow
- cognitive perception
These dimensions define how influence is created and how decisions are shaped in complex environments.
What to Expect at COSAC Security Conference
At COSAC 2026, Dietz will deliver both a formal presentation and a hands-on tabletop exercise focused on information warfare and information operations strategy.
The session will examine how non-kinetic tools, including psychological operations, cyber activity, and coordinated messaging, are used to influence adversary behavior and decision-making.
The workshop will place participants inside a simulated scenario involving cyber disruption and disinformation campaigns. Teams will be required to interpret incomplete information, identify early signals, and make decisions in real time.
This reflects a growing reality.
The earliest indicators of risk rarely appear as clear events. They emerge through fragmented data, competing narratives, and subtle shifts in the information environment.
COSAC 2026, taking place September 30 to October 1 in Naas, Ireland, brings together cybersecurity leaders from across Europe, the UK, Australia, and beyond.
As information warfare continues to evolve into a central component of global strategy, conversations like these are becoming increasingly important.
We are proud to have Dietz representing TAL Global in that room.
About TAL Global
TAL Global is an international security consulting and risk management firm with over 28 years of proven experience. We protect people, places, assets, and logistics in an increasingly complex and connected world.
Operating across the full landscape of security risk, our work includes workplace violence prevention, executive protection, investigations, travel security, emergency preparedness, and more.
Our team includes former federal agents, military veterans, executive level leaders, and crisis response experts recognized for delivering results under pressure. We are trusted by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and mission driven organizations worldwide.
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