Cyber defence will be integrated into the new German defence white paper, said minister of defence Ursula von der Leyen while visiting the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence yesterday.
“This summer, Germany will focus on cyber defence as part of our white paper process,” said minister von der Leyen. “I would want NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence to participate with experts and share experience on areas included in such documents” the minister of defence added.
“Supporting the Centre’s Sponsoring Nations in the area of cyber defence is a fundamental part of our mission,” said Colonel Artur Suzik, the director of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. “Furthermore, our researchers have substantially contributed to national cyber defence strategies and frameworks of sponsoring nations who have requested support,” explained Suzik. Late last year, for example, the Centre devoted resources to updating the Estonian cyber security strategy.
The minister also showed a keen interest in the forthcoming cyber defence exercise Locked Shields 2015 and was briefed about the Tallinn Manual process on the applicability of international law to the cyber realm.
The Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence is a NATO-accredited knowledge hub focused on interdisciplinary applied research and development as well as consultations, trainings and exercises in the field of cyber security. The Centre’s mission is to enhance capability, cooperation and information-sharing between NATO, Allies and partners in cyber defence.
Membership of the Centre is open to all Allies. Currently, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the USA have signed on as sponsoring nations. Greece and Turkey are working on finalising their accession process. Austria has become a contributing participant and Finland is well on its way to doing the same.
Pictures of the visit are available at http://pildid.mil.ee/Saksamaa-liitvabariigi-kaitseminister-Ursula-von-der-Leyeni-Eesti-visiit-14-04-2015 (photo credit: Estonian Defence Forces).