Crossroads Blog | CYBER SECURITY LAW AND POLICY

Current Affairs, cyber attack

Europe Simulates Total Cyber War

BBC News reports, in an article dated November 4, 2010, that the "first-ever cross-European simulation of an all out cyber attack" has been executed.  The simulated attack, "CYBER EUROPE 2010" was planned to "test how well nations cope as the attacks slow connections."

The simulation worked by "steadily reduc[ing] access to critical services to gauge how nations react."  The simulation "also tested how nations work together to avoid a complete shut-down of international links."

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda says the exercise was designed to test preparedness and was an "'important first step towards working together to combat potential online threats to essential infrastructure.'"

In charge of overseeing the operation was the European Network and Information Security Agency.  That agency has been given the authority to "help member states handle cyber security incidents."  According to BBC, all 22 EU Member States, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland took part in the simulation.

A press conference detailing the simulation's successes and failures is scheduled for November 10, 2010 in Berlin.  

 

The full article can be found above, or here.  The press release about CYBER EUROPE 2010 can be found above, or here

 

Leave a Reply