Romania hosted NATO's most complex cyber security and defense exercise

Romania participated for the fifth time in this exercise and teamed up with Portugal and the Republic of Moldova to defend against simulated attacks - reflecting the real threats facing the digital world today - critical infrastructures fundamental to the functioning of modern societies, including energy grids, water distribution and purification systems, satellite, communications, 5G and defense services.

Unlike other exercises, Locked Shields was a true war simulation, and in addition to technical responses to cyber attacks, teams had to manage public communications, provide legal advice and make strategic decisions, all under time pressure and intense stress.

Locked Shields is organized annually by the NATO Centre of Excellence for Cyber Defence Cooperation in Tallinn, Estonia, and provides a realistic training framework for testing response capabilities in the face of diverse and evolving cyber threats.

Translated by: Radu Matei