NATO teams with Finland on cyber, critical infrastructure exercise

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) teamed up with one of NATO’s newest Allies, Finland, to participate in Exercise Locked Shields at the Finnish Air Force Command Headquarters in Tikkakoski, Finland from May 6-8. 

Organized annually by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, Locked Shields is one of the worlds’ most complex live-fire cyber defense exercises. It simulates real-time cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and national IT systems, testing participants’ ability to respond under pressure, while including legal, strategic and communication challenges.

2025 marks the 15th consecutive year that NCIA has participated in the exercise. This year, NCIA’s NATO Cyber Security Center (NCSC) led a team composed of technical and non-technical experts, from NCIA, NATO HQ, NATO Cyberspace Operations Center, Joint Force Command Brunssum, and NATO nationals. For the first time, NCIA teamed up with Finland, with cooperation starting in summer 2024.

“Each year, collaborating with another team challenges us to rethink how we organize and operate. The technical aspects of the exercise are always valuable, but learning to work together with colleagues of another nation is just as rewarding: every exercise is a fresh lesson in both cyber defence and collaboration,” stated Frederik Boone, NCSC Senior Cyber Security Engineer at NCIA.

“It is imperative that NATO Allies understand how to protect critical infrastructure against vulnerabilities,” said the Cyber Training Manager at MPK (National Defence Training Association in Finland). “Locked Shields offers a symbolic learning experience for both team partners. Collaborating with NCIA means that we have gained deeper understanding of how the NATO community functions in the cyber domain.”

This year’s exercise brought together around 4,000 participants from all over the globe, including 27 NATO Nations.

Read more at NATO Communications and Information Agency