An Examination of Estonia 2007 Cyber Attacks and the Effects on National Cyber Security Policies of Countries

Esma Dilek; Özgür Talih; Türksel Bensghir

Article Details

An Examination of Estonia 2007 Cyber Attacks and the Effects on National Cyber Security Policies of Countries

Authors:

Esma Dilek | Özgür Talih | Türksel Bensghir

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Bilgi Güvenliği Yönetimi

Journal:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.6 Issue 2, pp.332-347

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001307558

pISSN:

2636-8544

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Cyber-attacks are among the major issues that need to be taken into consideration in terms of national security in countries that are digitalised and transforming into an information society. Unlike traditional physical attacks, the manner in which cyber attacks will occur, which attack surfaces they will use, and which targets they will be directed towards are unpredictable and varied. The consequences of attacks in the cyber space can have unpredictable effects in various dimensions. One of the most prominent examples of this issue in the world occurred in 2007 against Estonia. Estonia, one of the most technological countries in Europe, was exposed to one of the most coordinated, comprehensive cyber-attacks ever organised against a single country. This wave of cyber attacks against Estonia, which emphasised the importance of having advanced cyber defence capabilities, highlighted the issues that need to be focused on in the field of cyber security to ensure national security. In this study, the cyber-attacks against Estonia in 2007, the reasons, targets, national and international effects of these attacks, the cyber defense measures taken, and the lessons learned after the attacks were examined. In the light of these lessons, the current cyber security policies of Türkiye and the countries ranked high in the International Telecommunication Union ITUs Global Cyber Security Index have been evaluated.

 Cyber-attacks are among the major issues that need to be taken into consideration in terms of national security in countries that are digitalised and transforming into an information society. Unlike traditional physical attacks, the manner in which cyber attacks will occur, which attack surfaces they will use, and which targets they will be directed towards are unpredictable and varied. The consequences of attacks in the cyber space can have unpredictable effects in various dimensions. One of the most prominent examples of this issue in the world occurred in 2007 against Estonia. Estonia, one of the most technological countries in Europe, was exposed to one of the most coordinated, comprehensive cyber-attacks ever organised against a single country. This wave of cyber attacks against Estonia, which emphasised the importance of having advanced cyber defence capabilities, highlighted the issues that need to be focused on in the field of cyber security to ensure national security. In this study, the cyber-attacks against Estonia in 2007, the reasons, targets, national and international effects of these attacks, the cyber defense measures taken, and the lessons learned after the attacks were examined. In the light of these lessons, the current cyber security policies of Türkiye and the countries ranked high in the International Telecommunication Union ITUs Global Cyber Security Index have been evaluated.

 Cyber-attacks are among the major issues that need to be taken into consideration in terms of national security in countries that are digitalised and transforming into an information society. Unlike traditional physical attacks, the manner in which cyber attacks will occur, which attack surfaces they will use, and which targets they will be directed towards are unpredictable and varied. The consequences of attacks in the cyber space can have unpredictable effects in various dimensions. One of the most prominent examples of this issue in the world occurred in 2007 against Estonia. Estonia, one of the most technological countries in Europe, was exposed to one of the most coordinated, comprehensive cyber-attacks ever organised against a single country. This wave of cyber attacks against Estonia, which emphasised the importance of having advanced cyber defence capabilities, highlighted the issues that need to be focused on in the field of cyber security to ensure national security. In this study, the cyber-attacks against Estonia in 2007, the reasons, targets, national and international effects of these attacks, the cyber defense measures taken, and the lessons learned after the attacks were examined. In the light of these lessons, the current cyber security policies of Türkiye and the countries ranked high in the International Telecommunication Union ITUs Global Cyber Security Index have been evaluated.

 Siber saldırılar, dijitalleşmiş ve bilgi toplumuna dönüşen ülkelerde, ulusal güvenlik açısından dikkate alınması gereken önemli hususlar arasındadır. Geleneksel fiziksel saldırılardan farklı olarak siber saldırıların ne şekilde meydana geleceği, hangi saldırı yüzeylerini kullanacağı ve hangi hedeflere yöneleceği konuları beklenmedik şekillerde ve çeşitliliktedir. Siber dünyada meydana gelen savaşların sonuçları farklı boyutlarda öngörülemeyen etkilere sahip olabilmektedir. Bu durumun dünyada ses getiren örneklerinden biri, 2007 yılında Estonyaya yönelik olarak meydana gelmiştir. Avrupanın en teknolojik ülkelerinden olan Estonya, o tarihe kadar tek bir ülkeye yönelik düzenlenen, koordineli, en kapsamlı siber saldırılardan birine maruz kalmıştır. Gelişmiş siber savunma yeteneklerine sahip olmanın önemini vurgulayan, Estonyaya yönelik bu siber savaş dalgası, ulusal güvenliğin sağlanması için siber güvenlik alanında odaklanılması gereken konuları gün yüzüne çıkarmıştır. Bu çalışmada, 2007 yılında, Estonyaya düzenlenen siber saldırılar, bu saldırıların nedenleri, hedefleri, ulusal ve uluslararası etkileri, alınan siber savunma önlemleri, saldırılar sonrasında öğrenilmiş dersler incelenmiştir. Bu dersler ışığında, Uluslararası Telekomünasyon Birliği ITU Küresel Siber Güvenlik İndeksinde üst sıralarda yer alan ülkelerin ve Türkiyenin güncel siber güvenlik politikaları değerlendirilmiştir.

Article Details

An Examination of Estonia 2007 Cyber Attacks and the Effects on National Cyber Security Policies of Countries

Authors:

Esma Dilek | Özgür Talih | Türksel Bensghir

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Bilgi Güvenliği Yönetimi

Journal:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.6 Issue 2, pp.332-347

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001307558

pISSN:

2636-8544

Estonia

Cyber Attack

Cyber DefenseEstonya

Siber Saldırı

Siber Savunma

Issues

Article Details

An Examination of Estonia 2007 Cyber Attacks and the Effects on National Cyber Security Policies of Countries

Authors: Esma Dilek | Özgür Talih | Türksel Bensghir

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Bilgi Güvenliği Yönetimi

Journal: Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.6 Issue 2, pp.332-347

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001307558

pISSN: 2636-8544

Estonia

Cyber Attack

Cyber DefenseEstonya

Siber Saldırı

Siber Savunma

Issues

Authors:

Esma Dilek | Özgür Talih | Türksel Bensghir

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Bilgi Güvenliği Yönetimi

Journal:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.6 Issue 2, pp.332-347

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001307558

pISSN:

2636-8544