CARNET’s experts participated in NATO's largest and most complex cyber defense exercise, Locked Shields, which this year brought together approximately 4,000 participants from 42 countries.
The exercise was led by the Croatian Armed Forces Cyber Space Command on behalf of the Republic of Croatia, which, for the first time, led the national participation, alongside experts from the security and intelligence system and the private IT sector, including experts from CARNET and the National CERT.
The exercise was conducted in a virtual environment through scenarios of coordinated cyberattacks on critical infrastructure systems, including power grids, communication systems, and other key digital services. Participants had to detect and analyze attacks in real-time, maintain system functionality, and make decisions under pressure.
In addition to technical defense, Locked Shields includes legal, communication, and strategic challenges, testing the ability to coordinate a response to complex hybrid threats and the collaboration of various institutions in crisis situations.
By participating in the CARNET exercise, as a public institution responsible for security and prevention of computer threats in the educational and public sectors, it contributes to strengthening national cyber capacities, knowledge exchange, and improving cooperation between the military, civil, public, and private sectors in the field of cyber security.