Cyber defense in action: International Dialogue and Training for Civil Servants

Two key events have recently taken place as part of strengthening cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and enhancing the digital resilience of Ukraine's government agencies at the initiative of the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NCCC).

First of all, the NCCC representatives held a working meeting with Nicholas Natale, Senior Program Manager of Global Affairs Canada, Eleanor Davidson, representative of the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine, and representatives of CRDF Global. The main topic of discussion was the areas of further cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, strengthening regional cybersecurity, establishing a cyber resilience competence center in Ukraine, and organizing joint educational and analytical events.

The parties paid special attention to the development of a national initiative to strengthen the role of women in cybersecurity as a priority area for supporting gender equality and engaging women in the strategically important field of digital security. The Ukrainian side expressed its gratitude to international partners for their support and assistance in strengthening cyber resilience, which is a significant contribution to the state's cybersecurity.

At the same time, in order to strengthen the digital security of the public sector, the NCCC, together with CRDF Global, with the support of Global Affairs Canada and in partnership with 10Guards Ukraine LLC, organized cyber hygiene trainings for civil servants of the NSDC of Ukraine called “Antivirus for the Brain: Cyber Hygiene in the Age of AI”. The program was designed to address current challenges in cybersecurity and focuses on the practical aspects of protecting personal and official digital information.

Opening the event, Natalia Tkachuk, Secretary of the NCCC, Head of the Information and Cybersecurity Service of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, emphasized: “Today, digital security is not only a matter for cybersecurity specialists, but also a duty of every civil servant. Knowledge of the basics of cyber hygiene is a guarantee of our resilience in the face of modern hybrid threats.”

The training program covered such important topics as new trends in cyberattacks (phishing, baiting, messenger attacks), personal device security (application settings, safe use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), basics and advanced messenger security features, safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence for business and personal purposes, and algorithms for rapid response to cyber incidents.

Such exercises are an important element of a comprehensive approach to public sector cyber resilience and demonstrate the high level of international support in countering digital threats.