No nation that wishes to rely on digital services can ignore threats in cyber space, Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas highlights. He was briefed on the most recent developments at the Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence today.
“No modern government can ignore threats in this new domain of cyber space. The Centre is a unique knowledge hub that greatly contributes to its member nation’s ability to defend themselves,” says Prime Minister Jüri Ratas. “Tallinn Manual 2.0 on the international law applicable to cyber operations, for example, is the most comprehensive handbook offering guidance to governments and legal advisors. Similarly, Estonia benefitted from the expertise of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in drafting its current cyber defence strategy. The consultations with the Centre were invaluable in updating the strategic framework document.”
“Estonia realized the importance of defending our digital way of life more than a decade ago. Other nations were invited to join the initiative that has become the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence already in 2004,” explains Sven Sakkov, director if the knowledge hub, exercise and training facility in Tallinn. “This leadership and continued support from the framework nation means we are able to serve our members with research, trainings and exercises in all things cyber defence.”
The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCD COE) is a community of nations providing a 360-degree look at cyber defence, with expertise in the areas of technology, strategy, operations and law. The Tallinn-based international military organisation focuses on interdisciplinary applied research, consultations, training and exercises in the field of cyber security. The heart of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence is a diverse group of international experts from military, government and industry backgrounds.
The Centre is staffed and financed by its sponsoring nations and contributing participants. As of October 2016, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States are signed on as Sponsoring Nations of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Austria and Finland have become Contributing Participants with Swedish accession being finalized in the same format.