Ukraine becomes a member of the NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence
On May 16, 2023, Ukraine became a full member of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) (hereinafter referred to as the Center) with the status of a contributing country. On this occasion, a special flag-raising ceremony was held at the Center, located in Tallinn (Republic of Estonia), to mark Ukraine's accession as a new member of the CCDCOE.
Ukraine's accession to the CCDCOE was initiated by the National Cybersecurity Coordination Center at the NSDC of Ukraine in July 2021, when the relevant application was signed by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov. In August of the same year, the application was submitted by the Ukrainian delegation headed by Head of the Information Security and Cybersecurity Service of the Staff of NSDC of Ukraine, the NCSCC Secretary Natalia Tkachuk, during an official visit to the CCDCOE. The NCSCC also set up a working group on Ukraine's accession to the NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence with the participation of the main actors of the national cybersecurity system of Ukraine. As a result, the Action Plan for Accession was approved and its implementation was ensured.
Thanks to the effective coordination and support of international partners, Ukraine's application was unanimously approved by all members of the Steering Committee on March 4, 2022. In May and November of the same year, representatives of the NCSCC took part in meetings of the Steering Committee of the NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE).
In early 2023, the NCSCC began the procedure for signing a Technical Agreement with all CCDCOE member states, and in May of this year, Ukraine became a full member of the Center. On this occasion, the flag of our country as a new member of CCDCOE was solemnly raised in Tallinn.
"This is a historic day for our country, and, of course, an important step towards Ukraine's accession to NATO. Membership in the CCDCOE will allow us to interact more effectively in the international arena in the field of cybersecurity and cyber defense, as well as to share experiences with the member countries of the Center. After all, today Ukraine is at the forefront of the global cyber war that russia is waging against us, European countries and other democratic states. And we must mobilize all the necessary resources, unite our forces and means in order to repel the enemy once and for all," Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said.
At the initiative of the NCSCC, a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was developed and adopted in February 2023, which allows sending a representative of Ukraine on a long-term business trip to work at the Center. According to the NCSCC resolution, Ukraine will be represented at the NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence by a specialist of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine. It is also planned to have representatives of other key actors of the national cybersecurity system - the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine - on a rotational basis.
Membership in the CCDCOE will allow for the rapid exchange of information on identifying and countering modern cyber threats, practicing joint response to cyber attacks, conducting joint defense and deterrence operations in cyberspace, and participating in the development of strategic approaches and new policies in the field of cybersecurity and cyber defense at the international level. Ukraine will have access to advanced technologies and leading research conducted by the CCDCOE.
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The NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence is one of NATO's key cyber defense structures, dealing with cybersecurity issues at both the strategic and practical levels. Established in 2008 in response to russian aggression in cyberspace against Allies, the Center's membership includes 30 NATO Allies and 8 contributing countries.