CAFCYBERCOM strengthens Allied cyber resilience during NATO’s Exercise CYBER COALITION 25
December 15, 2025 – Defence Stories
Estimated read time – 2:00
By Major Christopher Daniel, CAFCYBERCOM Senior Public Affairs Officer
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In France, the Cyber Protection Team from the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre worked with France’s Centre d’Analyse en Lutte Informatique Défensive (CALID) to tackle complex, simulated cyber incidents during Exercise CYBER COALITION 25.
Photo credit: SIRPA Terre (France)
Canadian cyber operators went head-to-head with some of the world’s toughest simulated digital threats during NATO’s Exercise CYBER COALITION 25, held from November 28 to December 6. The annual exercise brought together NATO Allies, partners, and organizations to test how nations defend and recover from large-scale cyberattacks.
Coordinated from Tallinn, Estonia, Exercise CYBER COALITION 25 challenged participants to protect critical infrastructure, secure government systems, and coordinate multinational responses under pressure. For the Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM), it was an opportunity to sharpen operational readiness and reinforce Canada’s role in collective cyber defence.
CAFCYBERCOM deployed a Cyber Protection Team (CPT) to work alongside France’s Centre d’Analyse en Lutte Informatique Défensive (CALID). At the same time, a Cyber Planning and Liaison Element (CPLE) embedded with NATO headquarters in Tallinn supported coordination across the Alliance.
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In Tallinn, two CAFCYBERCOM officers worked alongside NATO Allies during Exercise CYBER COALITION 25, supporting operational planning and coordination for the Alliance’s major annual cyber defence exercise.
Photo credit: ACT
Reflecting Canada’s whole-of-government approach, cyber specialists from DND/CAF, Transport Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada, Quebec’s Ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique, le Centre gouvernemental de cyberdéfense, and Hydro Québec participated remotely from Ottawa, ensuring Canada’s civil and military expertise worked in lockstep.
For Major-General Dave Yarker, Commander of Canadian Cyber Command, the exercise underscored the value of trust and teamwork in cyberspace. “Exercise CYBER COALITION 25 was about more than testing systems—it was about testing trust,” he said. “Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our NATO Allies allowed us to learn from each other, refine our techniques, and build the interoperability that underpins collective defence in the digital domain.”
Throughout the week, Canadian cyber operators tackled fast-evolving scenarios that mirrored real-world threats—ransomware attacks, data manipulation, and intrusions targeting critical systems. The dynamic environment demanded rapid coordination, clear communication, and innovative problem-solving under pressure.
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In Ottawa, CAFCYBERCOM and Public Safety Canada cyber personnel worked with Government of Canada partners to review the first wave of simulated incidents during NATO Exercise CYBER COALITION 25.
Photo credit: Major Charles Paquin
Lieutenant-Colonel Gary McQueen, CAFCYBERCOM’s NATO Section Lead, said the exercise was as much about people as it was about technology. “Every year, Exercise CYBER COALITION 25 pushes us to think differently,” he explained. “It’s where technical skill meets strategic understanding. By working alongside our Allies, we strengthened not just our networks, but our collective resolve.”
By the end of the exercise, Canadian participants had further strengthened operational ties with NATO Allies and partners, validated deployable cyber capabilities, and reinforced Canada’s commitment to a secure, free, and open digital environment. In a domain where milliseconds matter, the exercise proved once again that Canada’s cyber defenders are ready to act—together, and with confidence.