The U.S. and allied nations wrapped up their Locked Shields 2024 cybersecurity exercise, with the power of collaboration defeating cyberattacks as a major takeaway from this year’s effort.
Locked Shields 2024 is a yearly large scale cybersecurity exercise – with the U.S. component led by Joint Force Headquarters, Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) – that focuses on cyberattacks on critical infrastructure in real time.
But this year’s exercise concluded with an unprecedented twist.
Despite the competitive nature of Locked Shields, participating teams formed a grand coalition by sharing information demonstrating “that the true power lies in fostering collaboration to enhance collective security rather than competing for the exercise’s victory,” according to a statement released by exercise officials.
The Locked Shield exercise brings together 3,500 participants from 40 countries, including NATO members, to operate on realistic scenarios and innovative technologies that simulate a massive cyber incident, including decision-making, legal, and communication aspects.
Locked Shields is coordinated by the Estonia-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence.
This year Locked Shields tested out artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G technologies.
During the exercise teams of over 100 operators cooperated to defend infrastructure against malicious actors while offensive teams sought to disrupt critical infrastructure.
“Every year, Locked Shields aims to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in cyber defense training, and 2024 has been no exception,” said Lt. Col. Urmet Tomp, director of the exercise. “The skills trained here directly translate to stronger national defenses against real-world cyber threats, enhancing our collective security.”
Several cooperation stories emerged following the exercise. For example, during the exercise blue teams formed further coalitions for information sharing on common threats and early warning alerts.
“One of the greatest things that the military has learned … is how important the interoperability is between various interagency and intergovernmental organizations, along with our national partners,” Maj. Gen. William Crane, adjutant general, West Virginia National Guard, said in a press conference.
“International cooperation in cyberspace is the key to success. As the world’s biggest exercise of its kind, Locked Shields is one of the best examples of high-level international cooperation,” said Estonian Minster of Defense, Hanno Pevkur.
