Estonia, renowned for its digital advancements, is seeking to partner with India on cybersecurity initiatives. During recent meetings in Tallinn, Estonian government stakeholders expressed their desire to collaborate with India to strengthen their cyber defenses. “We are happy to intensify the cooperation with India and to conduct cyber exercises here. Globally, there is a rise in cyber attacks and Estonia is also facing attacks from hackers,” said Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Estonia, a northern European country with a population of 1.37 million, experienced one of the most extensive cyberattacks in 2007, which targeted its businesses and institutions. The Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack coincided with riots by ethnic Russian Estonians and led Estonia to recognize the critical importance of cybersecurity. More recently, since 2022, large-scale DDoS attacks have targeted Estonian public sector websites, services, and private companies, with the Estonian government alleging these attacks were backed by Moscow.
Dr. Mart Noorma, Director of the Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), emphasized the importance of international collaboration, particularly with democratic nations like India. “We wholeheartedly welcome like-minded democratic nations like India to join us. This will help in cyber knowledge and exchanging methods to address cyber-attacks. The cooperation will help a large-scale coalition through research, training, and exercises,” Noorma said. The CCDCOE, established in 2008, is a NATO-accredited knowledge hub that plays a critical role in protecting national civilian and military IT systems and critical infrastructure during large-scale cyber-attacks.
Estonia stands out as a digital republic, with 99 percent of its government services available online and internet access enshrined as a basic human right in its constitution. The country has pioneered various digital initiatives, including online voting, comprehensive governmental online services, and the digitization of medical records. Estonia’s experience and expertise in cybersecurity make it a valuable partner for India, aiming to bolster their defenses against the rising tide of cyber threats.
