OSCE organizes national table-top simulation in Albania on protecting critical energy infrastructure from terrorist cyber-attacks

Strengthening protection and preparedness against terrorist attacks aimed at industrial control systems is the focus of a table-top simulation in Tirana on 26 and 27 April 2017 organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

During the table-top simulation, twenty-eight experts from different national state authorities and private sector representatives will be able to test the effectiveness of their existing protection and crisis management systems, including co-ordination with external crisis management mechanisms to mitigate the impact of an attack. The simulation also aims to further improve partnerships between the public and private sectors to increase the security and resilience of the national energy infrastructure.

“While the spread of information technology helps Albania’s progress, it also exposes the country to cyber threats. That may seriously damage the exchange of information in public institutions, as well as in the telecommunications and the bank sector, and make crucial services unavailable,” said Deputy Minister of Interior Elona Gjebrea, who addressed the national cyber experts at the opening of the exercise.

Robert Wilton, Deputy Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, said: “By participating actively in the table-top exercise, the participants will gain a hands-on experience on the possible consequences terrorist cyber-attacks might have on non-nuclear critical energy infrastructure.”

This table-top simulation in Albania is the fourth in a series of national exercises developed by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department for OSCE participating States, based on its Good Practices Guide on Non-Nuclear Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection from Terrorist Attacks Focusing on Threats Emanating from Cyberspace.