NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE)

This week, NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) was honoured to welcome Niamh Smyth TD, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment of Ireland, and James Sherry, Ambassador of Ireland to Estonia. The discussion focused on how CCDCOE supports member nations, and how national resilience can be enhanced by integrating cyber defence into all aspects of society and through cyberspace exercises.

📣 Call for Papers: Conference on the law applicable to the use of biometrics by armed forces The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), the War Studies Research Centre (WSRC) and the Amsterdam Center for International Law are organizing an international conference on the law applicable to the use of biometrics by armed forces, contractors working with armed forces, and ICT companies involved in military acquisition and procurement. The conference will take place on 23-24 October in Tallinn. We invite those interested to submit a proposal to present a paper at the conference by 📅 28 March. Please see more details in the The Call for Papers. 👇

📢 Registration for CyCon 2025: The Next Step is NOW OPEN! Join us in Tallinn, Estonia on 27-30 May 2025 for the 17th iteration of CyCon, a leading interdisciplinary conference exploring the forefront of cyber conflict. ✅ Explore cutting-edge research and technological advancements. ✅ Network with top experts and decision-makers from the global cyber defence community. ✅ Engage with 100+ cyber experts on stage. We are honoured to welcome Alar Karis, President of Estonia, for the opening address. This year’s confirmed keynote speakers include Gentlemen Hackers (Mikko Hypponen and Tomi Tuominen), Professor Ryan Maness (Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School), Dr Tarah M. Wheeler (Senior Fellow for Global Cyber Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations) and Dr Nikita Shah (Senior Resident Fellow at the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council). Original academic contributions from the Call for Papers will be presented in track-specific panels and published in the conference proceedings. Please check the CyCon website regularly for agenda updates! 📌Registration 📅 Deadline: 28 April Due to space restrictions, the conference is expected to sell out quickly. 👉 Secure your spot now: www.cycon.org See you in Tallinn! #CyCon2025 

For the third year in row, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) supported the undergraduate student competition tackling the issue of disinformation organized by the William & Mary Global Innovation Challenge (WMGIC). The WMGIC x NATO Countering Disinformation Challenge 2024 brought undergraduate students, academics, and industry professionals together to develop innovative solutions to pressing disinformation challenges. The new publication presents solutions offered by the seventeen winning teams who were selected based on their innovative, tangible, and sustainable recommendations to NATO HQ. The list of mentors and judges is also contained in the publication. Teams confronted disinformation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Russia-Ukraine War, Public Health, Sexism and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Terrorism, and Human Rights. Over the course of seven hours, teams devised solutions, advised by expert mentors in their selected topic. Each team then presented their solutions to a panel of judges who rated their proposals on the following criteria: feasibility and effectiveness, creativity, privacy, sustainability, and fiscal pragmatism. 🔗 Read the full publication in the CCDCOE Library here: https://lnkd.in/gZr5awBw

Happy Independence Day to our host nation, Estonia! Today, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) was proud to take part in the Estonian Independence Day Parade. Representing CCDCOE in the flag unit were Lieutenant Colonel Attila Bödör (Hungary), Major Adam Adamski (Poland), Major John Dall (Denmark), and Major Marko Arik (Estonia). Over 1,000 Estonian Defence Forces and NATO allied troops took part in the parade in Tallinn marking the 107th anniversary of Estonia's independence. The parade was reviewed by President Alar Karis and led by the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, Major General Andrus Merilo. 📷Estonian Defence Forces

Recently NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) had the honor of hosting Captain (N) Takuo Kobayashi from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Forces to discuss cyber education and training, including exercises. 🤝

👉 Join the CyCon Team as a Volunteer! The call for the 17th International Conference on Cyber Conflict: The Next Step (CyCon) volunteers is open - we’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make the conference a success! 📌What You’ll Do: ✅Assist at the registration & welcome desk ✅Monitor conference sessions & support speakers ✅Help the conference team with various tasks before and during the conference 📌When and where? 📅 26 – 30 May 2025 in Tallinn 📌Who We’re Looking For: ✅Fluent English speakers with great communication skills ✅Friendly, helpful, and reliable team players 📌Why Volunteer? ✅Free conference registration ✅Access to conference proceedings ✅A unique chance to learn about the latest trends in cyber defence & network with global experts! 👉 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dNsXdb5H

NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) Researcher, EU CyberNet and LAC4 expert Piret Pernik discussed the global and international perspectives on the convergence of cyber and climate risks at the "Cyber Climate Convergence in the Caribbean" conference, hosted by the Central Bank of Aruba on 5 February. She recommended policymakers and other stakeholders to: 📌 integrate environmental security and cybersecurity comprehensively into legislative acts, strategies, policies, and implementation plans; 📌cross-fertilize expertise between siloed technical and operational communities; 📌improve local, regional, national, international, inter-agency, cross-sectoral, and cross-border collaboration and information sharing; 📌develop comprehensive (versus sector-specific) risk assessments in order to help identify cross-sectoral and cross-border threats; 📌develop multi-hazard (man-made and natural) scenarios, risk management frameworks and worst case scenarios, 📌include the defence sector, defence industry, and law enforcement, as well as strengthen public-private-partnerships and engage local communities in decision-making processes.

On 29 January NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) researchers Aleksi Kajander and Piret Pernik contributed with lectures on NATO’s cyber defence and the international law of cyberspace at the Baltic Defence College’ Higher Command Studies Course (HCSC). The course provides the 28 students with an understanding of the contemporary security environment and its implications for national security and defence. Students in the HCSC come from 13 nations and are preparing for executive responsibilities at the strategic level. 🤝The CCDCOE is proud to continue the long-term tradition to contribute with lectures and discussions to the college’s courses. Thank you Louis Wierenga for inviting our experts!

Yesterday, the Estonian Defence League recognised its most outstanding members. We are incredibly proud of NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) Event and Travel Coordination Specialist Aivi Murd-Murulauk, who received the title „Aasta Naiskodukaitsja 2024“ - Member of the Year 2024 of Naiskodukaitse, the Estonian Women's Voluntary Defence Organization! 🏆 Aivi has been an active and committed member of Naiskodukaitse, serving as both Deputy Head of her unit and a member of the audit committee. For the past two years, she has also served as the Deputy Head of the Tallinn District while leading the medical specialty group. She has been described as a dedicated, inspiring, and skilled team player whose versatility and "let’s get it done" attitude set an example for her peers. Congratulations, Aivi on this well-deserved recognition! 📸 Photos: Kristlin Kõrgesaar/Estonian Defence League