Blue Cloak participated in the Locked Shields 2022 cyber exercise

Blue Cloak participated in “Locked Shields” organized by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) during April 19-21, 2022, in Morgantown, West Virginia.

What is “Locked Shields”?

Locked Shields, a CCDCOE annual exercise since 2010, enables cyber security experts to enhance their skills in defending IT systems and critical infrastructures under real-time attacks. The focus is on realistic scenarios, cutting-edge technologies and simulating the entire complexity of a massive cyber incident, including strategic decision-making, legal and communication aspects.

This year, there were 24 friendly Blue Teams competing in Locked Shields from various countries around the world. The participants took on the role of national cyber rapid reaction teams that are deployed to assist their fictional country in handling a large-scale cyber incident with all its implications. The West Virginia-led U.S. team finished 15th overall.

Value of Cyber Exercises

Locked Shields is a valuable opportunity for any country from the standpoint of the international community. This exercise provided a valuable opportunity for practicing cooperation between governments and private sectors.

The exercise helps defenders and decision-makers realize the criticality of coordination mechanisms in protecting a nation's interests by understanding the numerous interdependencies of systems. It also highlights critical infrastructure operating 24/7 and evolving technologies such as deep fakes.

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