ABSTRACT
Estonia is often lauded around the world for its leadership and expertise in cybersecurity and e-governance. In many ways, the “Bronze Night” can be seen as a pivotal moment in Estonia’s recent history and the subsequent development of national cybersecurity defense and policy. There is a belief amongst some Estonians that the attacks were something of a blessing in disguise; for it was a vital wakeup call that spearheaded many changes in how the Estonian government approached cybersecurity. Estonia is often credited with the world’s first National Cyber Security Strategy. The strategy and wider principles were developed in conjunction with two national development plans: Information Security Interoperability Framework and Estonian Information Society Strategy 2013. In September 2014, the Estonian government approved the second iteration of its National Cyber Security Strategy. The stated goal of the strategy was to “increase cybersecurity capabilities and raise the population’s awareness of cyber threats, thereby ensuring continued confidence in cyberspace.”
