Cyber Coalition - NATO'S FLAGSHIP CYBER DEFENCE EXERCISE
This November, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation organized and run NATO’s biggest cyber defence exercise Cyber Coalition 20, bringing together participants from 27 NATO nations, numerous NATO Partner nations, NATO Computer Incident Response Capability Technical & Coordination Centres, and the European Union Cyber Defence Staff. Cyber Coalition is NATO’s flagship cyber defence exercise and one of the largest in the world. Directed by NATO's Allied Command Transformation, this is its 13th edition and its first year to be conducted fully virtually.The exercise improves collaboration within NATO’s cyberspace domain, enhances the ability of the Alliance to conduct operations and provides feedback to NATO Cyberspace Transformation. It helps ensure that NATO and its Partners are prepared to respond, collectively if necessary, when confronted by any threat and are able to do so in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, as applicable. Drawing inspiration from current-day threats, the exercise tests officials’ real-time responses to incidents, such as attempts to breach classified networks, disruption of communications systems in critical infrastructure and espionage through smartphone applications.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exercise took place virtually this year with about 1,000 cyber defenders connected through Estonia's Cyber Security Training Centre.