19 May (BNS)

Meeting with volunteers of the Cyber Defence Union on Thursday, Estonian Defence Minister Mart Laar underlined the role of civic initiative in increasing cyber security.

"We must be able to protect ourselves from the dangers of cyberspace, and the Cyber Defence Union is a good example of the integration of civic society and the defence sphere in ensuring our security,” the Defence Ministry reported Laar as saying.

The Cyber Defence Union is a voluntary association for the defence of Estonian cyberspace and the Estonian way of life. The Cyber Defence Centre of the Defence League was set up at the beginning of this year. The unit brings together voluntary information technology security specialists and knowhow for the defence of the constitutional order of the state.

As cyber dangers are multifarious, the fight against them should also be broad-based, the defence minister said. Involving information technology experts from various walks of life on a voluntary basis, the Cyber Defence Union has a remarkable degree of expertise in ensuring cyber security.

The Cyber Defence Union has already attracted international attention as it combines state, private and third-sector co-operation from the national defence aspects, being a good example of broad-based defence.

"Cyber Defence is a sphere in which we are extremely interested in closer co-operation with both our near neighbours as well more distant countries. Close international co-operation in cyber security will create better opportunities for bringing in bigger partners for regional co-operation," Laar said.