From November 18 to November 20, NATO conducted its seventh annual Cyber Coalition Exercise, NATO reported. According to NATO, the three day exercise, dubbed “Cyber Coalition 2014”, was designed to test the “Alliance’s ability to defend its networks” from the myriad of threats that exist in the cyber domain. Additionally, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Enhanced Security Challenges Ambassador Sorin Ducaru highlighted the importance of ensuring that NATO’s cyber specialists “keeps pace with the evolving threat.”
During the Wales Summit that was held in September, NATO adopted a new policy making cyber defense a part of its core tasks. Although the new policy prioritizes NATO’s communications and information systems (“CIS”), according to NATO its operations require reliable and secure supporting national infrastructure. Accordingly, the new policy aims to increase cooperation between NATO, national authorities, international organizations and private industry. Additionally, NATO announced plans to improve its cyber defense through continued “cyber defense education, training, exercises and evaluation.”
Cyber Coalition 2014, NATO’s largest multinational cyber defense exercise, consisted of over 670 technical, government and cyber experts from over 30 countries, including all member nations and several non-member nations, NATO reported. Additionally, NATO revealed that representatives from academia and industry were present as observers. This marks the first time NATO has invited these representatives, and is in line with NATO’s recent initiative outlined during the Wales Summit. NATO further stated that industry plays a key role in cyberspace, and plans to foster its relationship with the private sector.
“The cyber threat is not just a potential threat, it is a daily reality,” Ambassador Ducaru said. Cyber Coalition 2014 is most certainly a part of NATO’s initiative to develop its ability to tackle these threats.
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