The simulation called Operation Resilient Shield focused on three key aspects: sharing information, handling an incident and public communication. Even before it got underway, the media was calling it the most sophisticated test of communications and co-ordination yet.
“We train and prepare for the threat of a financial cyber-incident. That is why this exercise is so important, and we will continue to work with our partners in the US to enhance our cyber cooperation,” Britain’s Chancellor George Osborne said in a government statement.
“Confronting the cyber threat is a team effort that requires coordination at all levels,” US Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew said.
“Today’s exercise with our UK partners is an important step to ensure that we are doing all we can to share threat information, adopt best practices and support our collective resiliency,” he added.
Both countries insist that Operation Resilient Shield is neither a “cyber war game” nor a “live play.” One of the main goals of the drills is just “enhancing processes and mechanisms for maintaining shared awareness of cyber security threats between US and UK governments and the private sector,” according to the UK government statement.