The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) is hosting the Locked Shields 2025 cyber defense exercise in Estonia, which involves nearly 4,000 experts from 41 countries. This exercise aims to enhance the readiness of national cybersecurity teams to protect critical infrastructure against multifaceted cyber threats in a simulated environment. Newly incorporated challenges include quantum computing and AI, alongside navigating legal and strategic communication issues in high-pressure situations. Affected: NATO ally and partner nations
Keypoints :
- Locked Shields 2025 is recognized as one of the most complex cybersecurity exercises globally.
- Approximately 4,000 participants from 41 NATO nations are involved, maintaining similar participation levels to the previous year.
- The exercise focuses on defending 8,000 virtual systems against sophisticated attacks, utilizing a cyber range.
- New challenges include addressing issues surrounding quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
- Participants must also contend with disinformation, political pressure, and legal aspects during the exercise.
- Mart Noorma highlighted the increase in cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, particularly referencing ongoing threats in Ukraine.
- Locked Shields emphasizes the importance of resilience built through collaboration and training in cybersecurity.