Cyprus Conducts Its First Cybersecurity Drills

The Republic of Cyprus has completed its first national cybersecurity exercise, CyberCyprus 2024.

According to the Digital Security Directorate, part of the Commissioner for Communications, the recent exercise marks a "significant milestone in strengthening Cyprus's readiness against the growing cyber threat."

The event was organized by the Digital Security Directorate in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, with full support from the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) under the EU's Action Support Program.

During the CyberCyprus 2024 exercise, simulations of cyberattacks on critical infrastructures, with a particular focus on the transportation sector, were conducted. Participating organizations were tasked with responding to incidents in real-time, aiming to enhance cooperation between government, semi-government, and private agencies.

The drills evaluated responses to incidents related to communication, crisis management, and inter-organizational coordination, ensuring continuity during crises.

The exercise focused on improving understanding of ransomware threats, strengthening incident response processes, and enhancing inter-agency collaboration.

It is anticipated that these drills will significantly improve the readiness of participating organizations to handle major cyberattacks.