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NATO’s “Cyber Coalition” exercise a collaboration in cyber defence

18 Nov 2010
Between 16-18 November, NATO conducted Cyber Coalition 2010, a cyber defence exercise that tested cyber incident response, interagency collaboration, and the strategic decision making processes of NATO and its member states.

Cyber Coalition 2010 was a procedural cyber defence exercise that included a number of technical elements. National cyber defence decision-making authorities, the NATO Cyber Defence Management Board and computer incident response teams from NATO and NATO nations participated in the exercise.

Major Carlos Torralba, the Exercise director stated that "the 2010 scenario included multiple, simultaneous cyber attacks targeting NATO and NATO member states, including spear phishing email attacks, malware-infected websites, inexplicable network activity and cyber espionage. Most of the incidents required action, coordination and collaboration from technical specialists as well as strategic decision making bodies of NATO and its nations. "

The exercise was centrally managed by the Cyber Coalition core planning team at SHAPE near Mons, Belgium. All other participants carried out the exercise from the country and location where they regularly operate. NATO Headquarters International Military Staff and International Staff; NATO Computer Incident Response Capability Technical Centre (NCSA NCIRC TC); NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) and Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD COE) are jointly responsible for the preparation and execution of the exercise.

The Cyber Coalition is planned and conducted under the approval of the NATO Cyber Defence Management Board, the executive body overseeing NATO's cyber defence activities. Cyber Coalition sponsors include all of the key institutions managing cyber security in NATO.

Cyber Coalition 2010 is the third NATO cyber defence exercise. The first edition of the exercise in November 2008 was limited to NATO bodies. In 2009 and in 2010, all NATO nations were invited to participate.

A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.
A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.
A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.
A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.
A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.
A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.
A total of 25 NATO nations were involved in the third NATO Cyber Defence Exercise. The exercise scenario included simultaneous computer security incidents targeted at NATO, such as malicious propaganda emails, infected websites, suspicious network activities and cyber espionage.