NATO cyber center adds new members

The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence has announced that Belgium and Sweden have joined the group, while a process has begun for also including Portugal and Bulgaria as upcoming members, Inside Cybersecurity reports this week:

"International cooperation of like-minded nations in cyber defense is becoming inevitable," said Sven Sakkov, director of the multinational and interdisciplinary hub of the center in announcing the new members on Tuesday.

"We are witnessing a growing interest towards our applied research, trainings and exercises, but the preparedness of nations to contribute themselves reflects more than just recognition to the work that has been done. It proves that we offer needed support for member nations and the international community in building their cyber defense," said Sakkov.

The expansion of the NATO cyber center comes amid growing concerns about Russian interference in cyberspace, and as the group is holding its ninth annual cyber conflicts meeting on May 30-June 2 in Tallinn, Estonia.

Including the new member countries, the NATO cyber center now consists of 19 countries, which include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.