NCSCC holds first regional command and staff exercise in Poltava

As part of strengthening cybersecurity measures at the regional level, the NCSCC, with the support of CRDF Global in Ukraine, the U.S. Department of State, and with the assistance of the Poltava Regional Military Administration and the Cyber Warfare Research Institute, successfully conducted the first regional command and control exercise (C&C) on June 29, 2023. The event was attended by representatives of the Poltava Regional Military Academy, the main cybersecurity entities of Ukraine and critical infrastructure facilities of Poltava region.

The main goal of the exercise is to test the country's existing cyber incident response systems and communication capabilities in the event of a crisis. They help coordinate the actions of all cybersecurity stakeholders and work out an algorithm of interaction. Conducting such exercises on an ongoing basis is envisaged by the Implementation Plan of the Cybersecurity Strategy of Ukraine.

"This year, the NCSCC is introducing the practice of conducting regional command and staff exercises on cybersecurity for the first time. On the eve of russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the strategic level of the exercise helped to develop a mechanism of interaction in response to cyberattacks and to make the necessary decisions of the NCSCC. All cybersecurity actors were prepared - Ukraine responded to large-scale cyberattacks by russia in a coordinated manner, which minimized their consequences. So now we will scale this successful experience across the country," said Head of the Information Security and Cybersecurity Service of the Staff of NSDC of Ukraine, the NCSCC Secretary Natalia Tkachuk, during a press conference dedicated to the event.

The head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration Dmytro Lunin noted that information technologies in Ukraine are developing actively and are being effectively integrated into all spheres of life. "This issue is especially acute during the war, as the threat of cyber attacks is growing. We understand the importance of protection in cyberspace, so we are working to strengthen security in the region," Lunin added.

The command and staff exercises tested the mechanism of interaction in responding to cyberattacks and communicating cyber incidents. Based on the results of the TPE, appropriate decisions will be made to improve coordination and cooperation between the responsible authorities of the region and strengthen the capacity to build the National Cybersecurity System of Ukraine as a whole.

"Each region of Ukraine is an important part of the national cybersecurity system. Therefore, CRDF Global, together with its partners, will continue to implement projects aimed at strengthening the cyber capabilities of the regions and improving the skills of government officials," summarized Mykhailo Verich, CRDF Global's Chief Operating Officer in Ukraine.