NCIA has been a key contributor and participator in Locked Shields since its inception in 2010. This year, NCIA’s NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) led a team composed of technical and non-technical experts, from NCIA, NATO HQ, NATO Cyberspace Operations Centre, Joint Force Command Brunssum, and NATO nationals. For the first time, NCIA teamed up with Finland, with cooperation starting in summer 2024.
“Each year, collaborating with another team challenges us to rethink how we organize and operate. The technical aspects of the exercise are always valuable, but learning to work together with colleagues of another nation is just as rewarding: every exercise is a fresh lesson in both cyber defence and collaboration,” stated Frederik Boone, NCSC Senior Cyber Security Engineer at NCIA.
“It is imperative that NATO Allies understand how to protect critical infrastructure against vulnerabilities,” said the Cyber Training Manager at MPK (National Defence Training Association in Finland). “Locked Shields offers a symbolic learning experience for both team partners. Collaborating with NCIA means that we have gained deeper understanding of how the NATO community functions in the cyber domain.”
This year’s exercise brought together around 4,000 participants, connecting from all over the globe, including 27 NATO Nations.
NCIA remains committed to participating in the exercise, to continue strengthening cyber defence skills and ensuring our capabilities remain resilient and ready to protect NATO networks and infrastructure.