NATO-accredited Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn Welcomed NATO Assistant Secretary General Missiroli

Dr. Antonio Missiroli, Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO Headquarters in Brussels (Belgium), visited today the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn (Estonia). Discussions with the Director Merle Maigre and experts of the Centre focused on the current threat landscape and solutions to strengthen multinational cooperation in the domain of cyber defence.

“I am delighted to be here today in Tallinn at the Centre of Excellence. As cyber threats continue to grow in complexity, I welcome the important work undertaken by the Centre on a range of cyber defence issues, including in the area of training, education and exercises,” NATO Assistant Secretary General Antonio Missiroli said.

“Since the establishment of the Centre ten years ago, we have enjoyed a close partnership with NATO in developing our key areas of expertise and major flagships. As new challenges continue to emerge, it is of utmost importance that we maintain tight contacts with NATO headquarters to coordinate further research areas and expand the reach of our training solutions,” said Merle Maigre, Director of the currently 20-nations-strong knowledge hub CCDCOE.

The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) is a NATO-accredited cyber defence hub focusing on research, training and exercises. It represents a community of currently 20 nations providing a 360-degree look at cyber defence, with expertise in the areas of technology, strategy, operations and law.

As of January 2018 CCDCOE is responsible for identifying and coordinating education and training solutions in the field of cyber defence operations for all NATO bodies across the Alliance. The new role is another testament of the interdisciplinary expertise that the Centre has acquired in the field of cyber defence.

The CCDCOE is home to the Tallinn Manual 2.0, the most comprehensive guide on how International Law applies to cyber operations. The Centre also organises the world’s largest and most complex international technical live-fire cyber defence exercise Locked Shields. Another highlight of the Centre is the International Conference on Cyber Conflict, CyCon, a unique event joining key experts and decision-makers of the global cyber defence community in Tallinn every spring. The tenth anniversary event CyCon X: Maximising Effects will take place from 30 May to 1 June 2018. In partnership with Munich Security Conference, CCDCOE will host the Cyber Security Summit in Tallinn on 29 May, 2018 on the eve of CyCon.

NATO-accredited centres of excellence are nationally or multi-nationally funded. NATO does not directly fund them; nor are they part of the NATO Command Structure.