Strengthening cybersecurity in the regions: NCSCC held regional command and staff exercises and a meeting of the National Cybersecurity Cluster in Ivano-Frankivsk

As part of strengthening cybersecurity measures at the regional level, the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, with the support of CRDF Global in Ukraine and the US Department of State, successfully held regional command and control exercises in Ivano-Frankivsk on August 31, 2023. Also, the XXI meeting of the National Cybersecurity Cluster was held in the new Cluster Talks format on the topic "Public-Private Partnership in Cybersecurity: Ukrainian and International Cases".

"Improving the level of cybersecurity in the regions is one of the priorities of the NCSCC. After all, the vast majority of critical infrastructure facilities are located in the regions of Ukraine, and the issue of their cyber defense is extremely important now. In addition, the components of the National Cybersecurity System are interconnected, and each link must be protected. After all, along with constant missile attacks, the enemy continues to attack in cyberspace and combines them with information influence. And only through constant interaction at all levels will we be able to effectively counter the aggressor country and bring our Victory closer," said Head of the Information Security and Cybersecurity Service of the Staff of the NSDC of Ukraine, the NCSCC Secretary Natalia Tkachuk.

Representatives of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration, the main cybersecurity entities of Ukraine and critical infrastructure facilities in the region took part in the command and control exercise. The event was facilitated by Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Fediyenko. During the command and staff exercises, the mechanism of interaction in responding to cyber attacks and communicating cyber incidents was practiced. Based on the results, appropriate decisions will be made to improve coordination and cooperation between the responsible authorities of the region.

The issue of public-private partnership in the field of cybersecurity was also discussed during the Cluster Talks in Ivano-Frankivsk. The event was attended by representatives of the public sector - the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration - as well as international and Ukrainian companies - Recorded Future, CDAC, Cyber Threat Alliance, Cyber Unit Technologies, 10guards, EPAM, CyberLab. During the discussion panels, the following were discussed:

• Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in cybersecurity: US experience and best practices;
• Current issues of PPP in the field of cybersecurity in Ukraine.

More than 250 specialists from the public and private sectors, representatives of international institutions and the scientific community joined the event in an offline format.  

The interaction between the state and business through the provision of support, legal protection and guarantees for the activities of Ukrainian companies in the field of cybersecurity is discussed.The conditions for establishing a reliable partnership that would guarantee the security of state and commercial interests, promoting economic growth and innovation in the country, are also considered.