Participating in the NATO International Exercise Cyber Coalition 23 is a significant milestone for CyberArrange Security Solutions. This exercise, which officially commenced on November 27th in the Estonian city of Tallinn, holds special importance for us as a cybersecurity company. Tallinn, being the home to NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD COE), is a fitting location for such an event.
Although the majority of the exercise takes place in the virtual realm of cyberspace, it is one of NATO’s largest cyber defense exercises, both in terms of scope and significance. Organized by Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and Allied Command Operations (ACO), it brings together over 1000 cyber specialists, comprising military personnel and civilians, from 28 NATO member nations and seven partner countries. Experts from various governmental, academic, and industry institutions also join forces, including representatives from the European Union.
Captain Charles Elliott from the United States Navy, the Exercise Director, highlighted during the opening ceremony in Tallinn, “Due to the escalation of sophisticated cyberattacks, it is imperative that we continually improve coordination and collaboration among nations and their national cyber defense capabilities. This is precisely the purpose for which Cyber Coalition has been designed.
The core scenarios in Cyber Coalition are more or less consistent, revolving around various cyber threats and security incidents. However, the specific details vary from one exercise to another and from one nation to another. These scenarios are designed to align with global cybersecurity trends and address the most prevalent threats in the global cyber domain. Lessons learned from events such as the cyber warfare in Ukraine, which extends into the fifth dimension of warfare, have a direct impact on NATO’s concepts, including those of Croatia.
As Bojnik Jerković noted, “The CyberArrange Security Solutions closely follows global trends and receives daily updates from various sources. This is something we must do as our field is constantly evolving, and even a single day can make a significant difference in cybersecurity.”
When CyberArrange Security Solutions receives information about the details of a cyberattack, immediate assessments are made regarding the resilience of the Ministry of Defense and the Croatian Armed Forces’ systems against such attacks.
Estonia, which experienced significant cyberattacks on its governmental institutions in 2007, has invested in the Cyber Range 14 (CR14) cyber training facility in Tallinn. CR14 serves as the central hub for the entire Cyber Coalition exercise, receiving all data and activities related to the exercise. CyberArrange Security Solutions also has its segment of the network on CR14, tailored for the five main incidents outlined in the scenario.
In summary, 2023 has proven to be an intense year for CyberArrange Security Solutions, filled with both regular duties and extensive preparations for Cyber Coalition. It is safe to say that our team has been busy, but this active engagement provides us with opportunities for growth and development in our field, working alongside modern technology and cybersecurity professionals from prominent civilian companies.
Participating in Cyber Coalition not only serves as recognition but also provides an excellent platform for our experts to learn from their NATO and national counterparts. One of the key advantages of Cyber Coalition is that it enhances our coordination and communication skills. It is essential to remember that the exercise evaluates the effectiveness and implementation of our national processes and procedures.
On Cyber Coalition 23, CyberArrange Security Solutions once again demonstrated its modern approach to cybersecurity challenges. This comes as no surprise, considering our specialization and responsibilities.
The closing presentation of Cyber Coalition 23, held at the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman” Croatian Military Academy on December 1st, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić, as well as Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Admiral Robert Hranj. During the event, representatives from our training groups provided insights into the course of the exercise, its objectives, and the challenges they encountered.
Croatian participants in the exercise include various units from the Ministry of Defense and the Croatian Armed Forces, state institutions (MVEP, MUP, SOA, HAKOM, AZOP, etc.), as well as academic and industrial partners (FER, ALGEBRA, Pravni fakultet Osijek, Infigo, Microsoft Croatia, Infobip, National CERT, CARNET, FERIT, FPZ, INsig2, SPAN, and others).
As CyberArrange Security Solutions, our participation in NATO’s Cyber Coalition 23 signifies our commitment to cybersecurity and our dedication to enhancing our capabilities in defending against cyber threats. We look forward to continued collaboration with our national and international partners in the field of cybersecurity.
