mnemonic has participated in the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) Crossed Swords exercise for the first time. Unlike Locked Shields, which primarily focuses on large-scale defensive cyber operations, Crossed Swords is mainly centered on offensive cyber activities while also encompassing defensive operations and actions in the information space. That makes the exercise unique in its field, and important for understanding the full spectrum of cyber conflict.

This is the first time that private sector organisations have been included as an integral part in the response planning phase of the exercise. Participants from critical infrastructure sectors joined forces in the newly established Critical Infrastructure Task Force (CITF), a collaborative effort designed to explore how public and private actors can combine their strengths to enhance collective situational awareness and execute successful cyber operations.

mnemonic contributed by improving situational awareness in the cyber domain, supporting decision-makers in understanding, planning, and conducting cyber operations within private infrastructure. We also helped strengthen understanding of the threat landscape, and supported responses to cybercrime and attacks on private infrastructure that could affect military operations or be considered key cyber terrain.

Crossed Swords has shown the strong potential of this type of cooperation, offering valuable lessons on how public and private entities can work together more effectively, making sure we strengthen our shared ability to detect, respond to, and ultimately deter advanced cyber threats.