On the morning of 19 March 2026, the ten organisations – ACOnet (Austria), Asiera (Ireland), Belwü (Germany), CYNET (Cyprus), DeiC (Denmark), GÉANT, Jisc (UK), RESTENA (Luxembourg), SURF (Netherlands) and Switch (Switzerland) – involved in the international TALON crisis exercise knew a crisis was coming, but not what form it would take. With a sense of anticipation in the air, teams began their day as usual, waiting for the first signs of disruption. When the scenario unfolded, that quiet tension quickly gave way to a fast-moving and demanding situation.
This is the first in a series of articles from the participating NRENs and the cross-NREN team behind the exercise. A full evaluation and analysis of the event will be published in the coming weeks.
TALON set out to test how effectively NRENs communicate in the early stages of a crisis. From a communications perspective, the focus was not only on speed, but also on clarity, consistency and empathy, ensuring organisations can reassure stakeholders that “we know, we do, we care.”
The exercise assessed whether NRENs could deliver timely and coordinated information, maintain trust, and operate clear communication structures under pressure. It also explored how well teams manage social media noise, misinformation and high volumes of incoming requests, while encouraging alignment of key messages across organisations.
A realistic and demanding simulation
TALON created a highly immersive media environment. A central communications team simulated social media activity, news coverage and public reactions, while exercise leaders played the roles of internal stakeholders and policymakers.
A dedicated team of journalists added further pressure, engaging NRENs with increasingly complex questions as the scenario escalated from local to international media. This allowed participants to demonstrate responsiveness, clarity and their ability to handle sensitive enquiries.
High intensity, valuable learning
Once the scenario began, events escalated rapidly, requiring teams to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Clear roles and responsibilities proved essential, and the overall experience was intense, engaging and highly instructive.
As Davina Luyten, communications lead for the exercise, noted:
“TALON showed that NRENs are able to respond quickly and responsibly under pressure, but it also highlighted how critical coordination and internal information flow are to maintaining consistent, trusted communication during a crisis.”
Strong performance with clear lessons
Overall, NRENs performed well. Most organisations were responsive and accessible, and many issued initial social media statements within 30 minutes. Spokespersons generally engaged openly, even when faced with difficult questions.
However, the exercise also highlighted areas for improvement. In some cases, spokespersons lacked sufficient information, pointing to gaps in internal communication between technical and communications teams. Differences in organisational maturity were also evident.
Key areas for improvement
Message alignment across NRENs remains a key challenge. Limited coordination sometimes led to inconsistent messaging, underlining the need for stronger collaboration mechanisms.
Further priorities include ensuring dedicated, well-trained spokespersons and preparing pre-approved materials such as Q&As and holding statements to support faster, more consistent responses.
A strong foundation for the future
TALON demonstrated both the strengths of the NREN community and the importance of continued improvement. The exercise provided valuable insights that will help strengthen coordination and ensure more effective communication in future crises.
Reflecting on the exercise, TALON exercise leader Charlie van Genuchten commented:
“A crisis can hit at any time, and when it does, you feel the impact immediately. There’s no opportunity to rewind or rethink your setup, you must rely on the preparation, structures and decisions already in place.”
What next?
Stay tuned for our upcoming series of articles, which will explore the crisis scenario in more detail, share experiences from participating teams and NRENs, and provide a deeper evaluation of lessons learned.
