Communications Ministry opts out of cyber attack drill

National Cyber Command irked by ministry's decision not to participate in 'Lights Out' drill. Ministry officials say they 'lack necessary expertise'

Yoav Zitun|Published: 01.20.12 , 00:06

The Communications Ministry said Thursday that it will not participate in an upcoming drill simulating a large-scale cyber attack on Israel.

The drill, dubbed "Lights Out," was planned before the recent cyber attack on Israel. The drill is orchestrated by the Counter Terror Bureau (CTB) and the National Cyber Command (NCC).

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NCC sources told Ynet that the Cyber Command expected all government bureaus to participate in the exercise and was vexed by the Communications Ministry's – perhaps the one ministry whose participation is vital to the drill – decision to the contrary.

The Communications Ministry said its personnel "lack the necessary expertise" to take part in the drill.

For full coverage of the cyber attack on Israel click here

National Security Advisor Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Yaakov Amidror reportedly sent an angry letter to the Communications Ministry: "The ministry's director-general informed us that you will not be participating in the drill since you 'don't deal with emergencies.' I ask that you do, for a change, deal with emergencies and make participating in the drill your first act to that effect," he wrote.

"It is implausible that such an important ministry does not concern itself with emergency (readiness). Such obliviousness in the State of Israel equals burying one's head in the sand and is an invitation for disaster."

The Communications Ministry rejected the criticism: "Despite the fact that this is a very important issue, we lack the necessary expertise and personnel to effectively take part in the exercise. The future designated department whose formation we recommended will have a team of cyber specialists."