How Xiaohongshu Secured a Top Spot in Shanghai’s “Panshi” Cybersecurity Drill

On March 10, the Shanghai Municipal Communications Administration, together with the municipal Cyberspace Administration, Economic and Information Commission, Public Security Bureau, and Changxing Island Management Committee, convened the 2022 “Panshi Action” network‑security attack‑defense drill summary conference. The event honored outstanding units, and Xiaohongshu, one of 123 defending (blue‑team) participants, won third place and received the “Excellent Blue Team” and “Excellent Progress Team” awards.

The drill, conducted from August 18‑24 of the previous year, brought together 30 attacking (red‑team) groups from domestic cybersecurity agencies and 123 key defending enterprises from Shanghai’s telecom and internet sectors. Using a professional attack‑defense platform, the participants engaged in intense, realistic cyber‑combat exercises.

In preparation, Xiaohongshu quickly assembled a 25‑person special task force two months before the event. The team drafted a detailed preparation plan, divided work into “Preparation & Response” and “Rectification” phases, broke the effort into eight categories covering 33 specific tasks, and assigned goals, priorities, owners, and deadlines, completing all preparatory work by August 17.

During the seven‑day drill, the task force handled over one hundred incidents, accurately tracing five attacks to the responsible companies and eighteen to individual attackers. Team members emphasized that successful defense requires not only blocking attacks but also conducting precise traceability and counter‑measures. Six traceability reports were judged “highly accurate” by the judges, earning additional points for the team.

The “Panshi Action” drill aligns with China’s Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, Personal Information Protection Law, the Digital China construction plan, and Shanghai’s 2021‑2023 network‑security industry innovation roadmap, aiming to strengthen cyber‑defense capabilities for major events and the broader industrial and information sectors.

Following the drill, Xiaohongshu joined eleven other enterprises in signing the “Shanghai Telecom and Internet Industry Anti‑Fraud Self‑Regulation Alliance Initiative” with the Shanghai Internet Association, committing to ongoing improvements in network security, a stronger baseline mindset, and reinforced protection foundations to contribute to a safer online environment.