Küberenesekaitse

Küberenesekaitse is the Estonian term for cyber defense, referring to the set of policies, capabilities, and practices used to protect a country’s information networks and digital infrastructure from cyber threats, to ensure the continuity of essential services, and to deter hostile cyber actions. It encompasses prevention, detection, incident response, and recovery, and covers government networks, critical infrastructure, private sector systems, and individual users.

In Estonia, cyber defense is organized across defense and security institutions, with the Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces coordinating national efforts, supported by civilian agencies responsible for critical information infrastructure protection and incident response. The approach emphasizes public–private cooperation, continuous risk assessment, rapid incident response, and resilience of e-government services and critical services such as energy, finance, and transportation. Education, awareness, and regular national cyber exercises are part of the program.

Estonia plays an active role in international cyber defense, cooperating with NATO and the European Union. It hosts the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD COE) in Tallinn and contributes to research, doctrine development, and incident-response coordination. The country’s cyber defense culture is closely linked to its digital society and legacy from the 2007 cyberattacks, which spurred reforms and investment in national cybersecurity.

See also: Tallinn Manual 2.0, CCD COE, cyber security, critical infrastructure protection, NATO.