Cyber Coalition helps prepare NATO for today’s threats

  • 27 Nov. 2018 -
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  • Last updated: 27 Nov. 2018 16:21

NATO’s flagship cyber defence exercise Cyber Coalition, one of the largest in the world, started on Tuesday (27 November 2018) in Tartu, Estonia. The exercise tests and trains cyber defenders from across the Alliance in their ability to defend NATO and national networks. Now in its eleventh year, Cyber Coalition involves around 700 participants from Allies, partners, industry and academia.

181128-N-GP524-0005TARTU, Estonia (November 28, 2018) Irish Soldiers work in the Operation Centre as part of Exercise Cyber Coalition 2018. NATO Allies, Partners and Representatives participated in Exercise Cyber Coalition 2018 in Tartu, Estonia. Cyber Coalition is NATO’s flagship cyber exercise and is currently in its eleventh iteration. (NATO Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brett Dodge)

The exercise aims to enhance coordination and collaboration between NATO and Allies, strengthen the  ability to protect Alliance cyberspace, and conduct military operations in the cyber domain.  It will also test NATO and national procedures on information sharing, situational awareness in cyberspace, and decision-making.

Cyber threats to the Alliance are becoming more frequent, complex and destructive. A cyber-attack on one Ally can affect all of us.  That is why strengthening cyber defence is a top priority for the Alliance, and exercises like Cyber Coalition are essential for building up this defence.

At the NATO Summit in July 2018, Allies took the next steps in strengthening defences in the cyber domain, with a new Cyberspace Operations Centre and the ability to draw on Allies’ cyber capabilities in NATO missions and operations. These steps will all help make NATO as strong in cyberspace as on land, at sea and in the air.