Vienna (OTS) – The international cyber exercise “Locked Shields 24” took place from April 23 to 25, 2024. More than 4,000 experts from 40 nations protected the critical infrastructure of a fictitious state in a simulated environment. This year the Austrian contingent practiced with Swiss and American soldiers in Switzerland. Together, they tackled complex cyber threats and improved international cooperation.
“Participation in ‘Locked Shields 2024’ underscores our continued commitment to cyber security and international cooperation. Such exercises are critical to strengthening our defense capability and responding to the challenges we face due to growing hybrid threats in cyberspace “To be prepared,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
Objectives of the exercise
Locked Shields is the world’s largest and most demanding cyber exercise, organized annually by NATO since 2010. The aim is to strengthen participants’ defense capabilities, work on international IT systems and defend critical infrastructures against large-scale cyberattacks. The Austrian contingent was supported by specialists from the Swiss Army and American cyber defense units. This collaboration enables a valuable exchange of experiences and strengthens the teams’ ability to respond together to complex cyber security incidents.
The cyber forces of the Austrian Armed Forces take all necessary measures to protect military networks and are available to the entire state upon request. The cyber forces are responsible for ensuring that every type of communication and data transmission can take place smoothly in the respective networks. Since 2022, the Theresian Military Academy has also had its own course of study for military information and communication technology.
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