As the war in Ukraine rages on the ground, the European Commission expects retaliation in cyberspace. Together with the Council of Europe, the Commission has decided organize a “stress test”(or cyber exercise) with the objective to test the resistance of the countries of the East from Europe and South East, except Ukraine and Belarus.
A cyber exercise with 11 Eastern European countries
From March 7 to 11, about fifty participants will take part in this cyber exercise in Athens, Greece. This event is part of the “CyberEast” program led by the Council of Europe, which aims to adapt the legislative frameworks to the level of cybercrime. It falls in the middle of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and that is not a bad thing. The European Commission will be able to measure the level of resistance of the countries of the Union.
War in Ukraine: Anssi warns companies against possible cyberattacks
Among the participants are 4 Eastern European countries with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova. It will also be necessary to count on the presence of 7 South Eastern European countries with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Turkey. Unsurprisingly, Belarus and Ukraine will not participate in this cyber exercise, even though both countries are part of the “CyberEast” program.
This “stress test” is timely
Participants will face a cyber exercise under real conditions. Their mission will be to “detect and identify cybersecurity incidents and/or potential cybercrimes and then track the money and proceeds of crime”, according to the organizers. They must face different attacks. In the press release, the Council of Europe announces the color. Participants will be required to identify potential perpetrators and collect intelligence and evidence on the use of malware.
Alongside this event, a conference will be organized by the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) on procedures for cooperation between law enforcement and CIRTs. Cybercrime experts from the UK, Australia, the Netherlands and Romania will be present.
While the cybercriminals behind the Conti ransomware have publicly expressed their support for the government of Vladimir Putin, Anssi has warned French companies against possible cyberattacks. This “stress test” is a good way to prepare the countries of Eastern Europe for possible attacks from Russia.