The piece begins with the author's recollections from September 2007, shortly after their transfer from the Embassy in Skopje to the Greek Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva. In this multinational setting, the author formed friendships with colleagues from various European countries. One notable instance was when a friend from Austria, Georg, shared news about Estonia experiencing Europe's first major cyberattack in April of that year, a shocking development that underscored the vulnerabilities of nations to such threats.

This concept of cyber threats is framed against previous incidents, notably the 2003 'Titan Rain' cyberattack in the United States that targeted significant entities like Lockheed Martin and NASA. The article highlights the evolution of cyber defense mechanisms as Estonia sought to recover and fortify itself, marking a pivotal moment in understanding how countries could adapt to technological challenges.

Furthermore, the narrative dives into the implications of these experiences on economic diplomacy, suggesting that knowledge of technology and defense is critical for nations striving to advance their economic interests in a global arena where cyber threats are increasingly common. This underlying theme of integrating personal experiences with broader geopolitical and technological shifts reinforces the necessity for countries to develop solid defense strategies in the face of evolving cyber landscapes.