LOCKED SHIELDS: Protecting Numerous Cyber-Physical Systems: NATO holds Major Three-Day ‘Live-Fire' Cyber Exercise

A cyber organization accredited by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will conduct what it bills as the largest and most complex “live-fire” cyber defense exercises in the world beginning on Tuesday.

The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, which is based in Estonia, said the annual event, called Locked Shields, is intended to boost the skills of cybersecurity experts defending national IT systems and critical infrastructure under real-time attacks.

> For the first time the exercise includes the simulation of a reserve management and financial messaging systems of a central bank.

> Additionally, a 5G Standalone mobile communication platform is deployed as part of a critical infrastructure to give the first experience to cyber defenders about upcoming technology change.

In total there are more than 2000 participants from 32 nations expected to be involved in Locked Shields 2022. The exercise is organised by CCDCOE in cooperation with NATO, Siemens; TalTech; Clarified Security; Arctic Security; CR14. The Centre also acknowledges the unique elements added to Locked Shields 2022 by Microsoft, the Financial Service Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS ISAC), SpaceIT, Fortinet.

Additional information: media@ccdcoe.org

OFFICIAL NOTICE:

Over 2000 Cyber Experts from 32 nations at the Locked Shields Exercise

(Over 2000 Cyber Experts from 32 nations at the Locked Shields Exercise)

 

ccdcoe.org |

During two days more than 2000 participants from 32 nations practise the protection of national IT systems and critical infrastructure under the pressure of a large-scale cyberattack at the annual live-fire cyber defence exercise Locked Shields. In addition to protecting numerous cyber-physical systems the participating teams practice tactical and strategic decision making, cooperation and the chain of command in a crisis situation where they also have to tackle forensic and legal issues and respond to information operations challenges.

The annual real-time network defence exercise is a unique opportunity for cyber defenders to practise protection of national IT systems and critical infrastructure under the pressure of a severe cyberattack.

 

19 Apr, 2022 16:25 

NATO holds major ‘live-fire’ cyber exercise

The drills bring together specialists from 32 NATO and partner countries including Ukraine

"Military cybersecurity games, dubbed Locked Shields, kicked off in Tallinn, Estonia on Tuesday. The annual exercise is staged by NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), a cyber organization accredited by the US-led military bloc.

“Locked Shields is an opportunity for a multinational team of both NATO and national experts to work together and learn how to collaborate with each other, providing them with an opportunity to realistically test their skills in a safe environment.” chief of the NATO Cyber Security Centre at the NCI Agency, Ian West, explained.

The exercise is the world’s largest and most complex ‘live-fire’ cyber-defense event, according to its organizers. Participants in the event will hone their skills in “reporting incidents and mitigating them in an effort to defend their fictional national civilian and military IT systems and critical infrastructure.”

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The three-day drills are expected to bring together some 2,000 cyber security specialists from 32 countries, both NATO member-countries and partners of the US-led bloc. Ukrainian cyber warfare specialists are expected to take part in the event as well, while CCDCOE has pledged its support to Kiev in the ongoing conflict against Russia. Last week, the centre held a ceremony to hoist the Ukrainian flag in a show of “solidarity and support.” 

“Establishing cyberdefence collaboration is essential, particularly considering the increasing risk of threats in cyberspace. We are with Ukraine and the CCDCOE welcomes the prospect of accepting Ukraine as a new contributing participant in the CCDCOE’s family,” the CCDCOE boss, Estonian military Colonel Jaak Tarien said during the event.

Apart from state entities, multiple major financial institutions are taking part in the cyber war games. The participants include Mastercard Inc., Banco Santander SA as well as other major organizations.

“By working with other organizations in a protected setting, like Locked Shields, we are able to glean insights into what others are doing and learn first-hand what is, or isn’t, working,” Mastercard’s chief security officer Ron Green told Bloomberg. “This also opens the door for deeper discussions about process and technology improvements each participant can make to enhance our overall cybersecurity.”