The three-day event was designed to test allied and partner countries’ ability to resist various cyber attacks, military spokespeople in Tallinn said. According to the exercise’s director, U.S. Cmdr. Rob Hoar, this year it focused on risks arising from distributed systems and smart devices, such as watches and TV sets. Like in previous years, the exercise made use of the NATO Cyber Range, a platform for NATO exercises and training events based on the capabilities of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF).

In addition to NATO staff and institutions, representatives of NATO member states and seven partner nations as well as the European Union took part in the exercise. The event was directed from the simulation center of the National Defense College in Tartu.

Among the exercise’s Estonian participants were specialists from the Ministry of Defence, the Information System Authority (RIA), the cyber defense unit of the Kaitseliit volunteer corps, the Tallinn-based NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, and several other government institutions. Representatives of private companies and research institutions also participated and observed.

This is the ninth year Cyber Coalition takes place. The first such exercise was held in Brussels and Mons, Belgium, in 2008. Estonia hosted the exercise for the fourth time.