April 18, 2024

AIT AND UN OFFICE FOR COUNTER TERRORISM (UNOCT) CONDUCT CYBER SECURITY TRAINING IN VIENNA

The training organization team (f.l.t.r.): Alex Townsend-Drake, Head of Programme, Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN), Philipp Agathonos, Head of Unit, Ministry for European and External Affairs (BMeiA), Martin Stierle, Head of Competence Unit Security and Communication Technologies (AIT), Helmut Leopold, Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security (AIT), Mauro Medico, Director, UN Counter Terrorism Centre (UNOCT), Balques Al Radwan, Programme Management Officer, Cybersecurity and New Technologies Programme (UNOCT/UNCCT), Alexandre Goulfier, Associate Expert, Cybersecurity & New Technologies (UNOCT), Eric Eifert, Cyber Security Research Engineer, Center for Digital Safety & Security (AIT), Donald Dudenhoeffer, Cyber Security Research Engineer, Center for Digital Safety & Security (AIT)
(c) AIT / D. Dudenhoeffer

The training organization team (f.l.t.r.): Alex Townsend-Drake, Head of Programme, Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN), Philipp Agathonos, Head of Unit, Ministry for European and External Affairs (BMeiA), Martin Stierle, Head of Competence Unit Security and Communication Technologies (AIT), Helmut Leopold, Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security (AIT), Mauro Medico, Director, UN Counter Terrorism Centre (UNOCT), Balques Al Radwan, Programme Management Officer, Cybersecurity and New Technologies Programme (UNOCT/UNCCT), Alexandre Goulfier, Associate Expert, Cybersecurity & New Technologies (UNOCT), Eric Eifert, Cyber Security Research Engineer, Center for Digital Safety & Security (AIT), Donald Dudenhoeffer, Cyber Security Research Engineer, Center for Digital Safety & Security (AIT)

On 27 and 28 March 2024, the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network (CTPN) and the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, conducted a strategic, scenario-based, roundtable table-top exercise focused on a terrorist cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure. The two day event took place at AIT facilities in Vienna and included participation from eight cities. The exercise highlighted current challenges facing city leadership around vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure, deep fake/disinformation campaigns, coordination, and incident response, amplified with emerging threats from generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). “We are pleased to be able to work with and support the UN on such a critical topic. Sharing our experience and new tools to help combat cyber-attacks is one of our core services”, said Helmut Leopold, Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security, AIT. “We greatly appreciate the collaboration and support provided by AIT in delivering this two day exercise in Vienna. Their knowledge and expertise in this space resulted in a very successful exercise that provided tremendous value to the participating cities”, said Mauro Medico, Director, UN Counter Terrorism Centre, UNOCT.

Cyber Security Training for 8 Global Smart Cities

Representatives from eight cities, namely Barcelona, Brussels, Copenhagen, London, New York City, Seoul, Singapore, and Stockholm, took part in the scenario-based table-top exercise. Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), cyber security specialists and law enforcement as well as counter-terrorism experts shared good practices in information security for critical infrastructure protection. They explored response structures, capabilities, and contingencies through the scenario exercise.

Contact

Michael W. Mürling
Marketing and Communications
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
Center for Digital Safety & Security
T +43 (0)664 235 17 47
michael.muerling@ait.ac.at
www.ait.ac.at