Cyber exercise and crisis communication training for Western Balkan experts

On 11-13 February cybersecurity specialists from Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia gathered online and onsite to Tirana for a 3-day Live-Fire cybersecurity exercise organised by e-Governance Academy and CybExer Technologies to enhance their practical cyber incident management skills according to real-world cyber threat scenarios. The Blue Teams had a unique chance to not only refine their abilities in identifying and responding to cyber threats but also in fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among peers.

“This hands-on experience gained from defending against real-time Red Team attacks is aimed to strengthen individual capabilities and improve overall readiness against future cyber challenges,” said Aare Reintam, COO of CybExer Technologies.

The technical exercise ran in synchronisation with cybersecurity crisis communications training led by Guna Šnore, Chief Education and Training Expert at the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. The training and exercise ran in parallel to underscore the critical need for effective communication strategies in the face of complex hybrid threats, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity.

“As hostile influences become increasingly sophisticated, equipping professionals with the tools to analyse the information environment and implement effective crisis communications is essential for building resilience,” Guna Šnore emphasised. The participants could gain a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate and mitigate the impact of cyber-related crisis situations.

“These regional training sessions allow cybersecurity experts to be prepared to respond effectively to diverse threat scenarios. We have seen time and again that the preparedness, knowhow, and connections gained through these exercises prove to be a strong foundation for resilience to cyber crises,” noted Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity Competence Centre at e-Governance Academy.

These trainings were part of the EU funded project Western Balkan Rapid 2.0  aimed to enhance cybersecurity preparedness, response and incident coordination of Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia for large-scale cyber incidents.

“As our societies become ever more digitised and dependent on technologies, we are faced with challenges to our liberties, such as cyber and other hybrid threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference. This is why European Union considers cybersecurity a top priority. It is part of our effors to prevent and discourage cyber attacks and increase resilience as well as create these global partnerships to be more immune to these attacks. Therefore, I am glad to see that European Union in Albania hosts these type of trainings,” European Union Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato noted.