NATO concludes Locked Shields 2026 cyber drill as 41 nations test defences against rising threats

International

TALLINN, Estonia (NPA) — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) has concluded its flagship cyber defence exercise, Locked Shields 2026, bringing together thousands of experts from across the globe to test responses to large-scale cyber threats.

The exercise, described as the world’s largest live-fire cyber defence drill, involved more than 4,000 participants from 41 nations who simulated real-time attacks targeting critical infrastructure, military systems, air defence networks and electronic voting platforms.

According to CCDCOE Director Tõnis Saar, the exercise pushed teams to defend systems essential to everyday life while confronting increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

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“At Locked Shields, teams must protect the IT systems that keep our everyday life running… The key now is to translate lessons learned into real-world readiness, especially as artificial intelligence transforms both cyber defence and attacks,” Saar said.

Participants were grouped into 16 multinational teams, with top-performing teams emerging from Latvia and Singapore, followed by a joint team comprising Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland, and another representing France and Sweden.

Exercise Director Dan Ungureanu said the initiative aims to strengthen cooperation and build trust among nations in defending cyberspace.

“Our ultimate goal is to enhance collaboration between nations and build a shared understanding of how to strengthen resilience,” he said, commending nearly 5,000 contributors worldwide.

Also speaking, Estonia’s Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur highlighted the growing complexity of cyber threats, noting that the exercise reflects real-world challenges facing governments and security institutions.

He said Estonia remains committed to hosting the exercise and fostering international cooperation in cyber defence.

Organised annually since 2010 by the CCDCOE in partnership with industry and academic institutions, Locked Shields remains a key platform for improving global preparedness against evolving cyber threats.