Mastercard Launches First Multi-Sector Cybersecurity Training Exercise in Europe
Mastercard has launched the first European edition of its global multi-sector cyber defense exercise (Cyber Defense Exercise – CDX) at the European Cyber Resilience Centre in Waterloo, Belgium. The initiative aims to test and strengthen the ability of major corporations to defend against complex, real-time cyber threats, bringing together teams from leading financial and telecommunications institutions, including BT Group, Deutsche Bank, ING, Proximus, and Santander.
Strengthening Technical Readiness
The CDX program delivers a hands-on, dynamic simulation that pits offensive and defensive teams against one another in realistic cyberattack scenarios. Red teams simulate sophisticated threats such as supply chain breaches, denial-of-service attacks, credential theft, and data leaks. Meanwhile, blue teams must detect, mitigate, and manage these incidents in real time.
The exercise also challenges executive leaders to navigate legal, regulatory, and communication crises—deciding whether an incident remains internal or escalates into a public emergency.
Participants included cybersecurity experts from the represented companies, along with public sector partners and members of Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). The exercise recreated a highly immersive environment, complete with a “cyber escape room” designed to enhance teamwork and cross-functional problem-solving under pressure.
Rising Cyber Threats Across Europe
Research by Mastercard indicates that cyber threats are escalating across Europe, with one in four small business owners having experienced attempted digital fraud. Many of them expressed fears of closure following attacks. Additionally, 72% of European consumers reported greater concern about cyber risks affecting their daily lives compared to two years ago.
Through CDX, Mastercard aims to establish a scalable and repeatable model for cross-sector collaboration in cybersecurity—strengthening Europe’s collective resilience against evolving digital threats.
Public–Private Collaboration in Action
The private sector-led initiative was supported by strategic partners Dell Technologies, Fortinet, Intel, World Wide Technology, and Immersive Labs, underscoring the vital role of public–private partnerships in safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Mastercard’s latest research also reveals that consumers place higher trust in financial institutions than in government bodies when it comes to protection from cyber fraud—71% trust banks, 61% trust credit card providers, compared to just 58% for government institutions.
With the European debut of CDX, Mastercard reaffirms its commitment to advancing cybersecurity readiness, fostering cooperation across industries, and empowering organizations to anticipate, withstand, and respond to the next wave of digital threats.