The aim of this report is to give an overview of the institutions and structures through which NATO member militaries handle cyber defense (CD); examples include cyber commands, military CERTs/CIRCs, special cyber units, and so on. As anticipated, open-source information on the development of military CD capabilities is scarce and relatively general in nature. Nevertheless, after a thorough review of existing public sources (which are listed by state in the appendix), we have been able to identify some tentative findings of interest, as found in the conclusions.
The aim of this report is to give an overview of the institutions and structures through which NATO member militaries handle cyber defense (CD); examples include cyber commands, military CERTs/CIRCs, special cyber units, and so on. As anticipated, open-source information on the development of military CD capabilities is scarce and relatively general in nature. Nevertheless, after a thorough review of existing public sources (which are listed by state in the appendix), we have been able to identify some tentative findings of interest, as found in the conclusions.
13.01.2014, Matteo Gramaglia (Visiting Research Fellow), Emmet Tuohy, Piret Pernik
The aim of this report is to give an overview of the institutions and structures through which NATO member militaries handle cyber defense (CD); examples include cyber commands, military CERTs/CIRCs, special cyber units, and so on. As anticipated, open-source information on the development of military CD capabilities is scarce and relatively general in nature. Nevertheless, after a thorough review of existing public sources (which are listed by state in the appendix), we have been able to identify some tentative findings of interest, as found in the conclusions.
To date 14 of the 28 NATO member states have established special military cyber defense units: Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These units vary from rudimental capability such as a very small military unit or CIRC to mature capability such as a full-fledged Cyber Command. Only very few states have formed a Cyber Command. Five other NATO states are either in the process of developing or have firm plans to develop military CD capabilities, often including the establishment of a special unit: Albania, Bulgaria, Portugal, Lithuania, and Luxembourg. Thus, a clear majority (19) of allied militaries have taken constructive action on military cyber defense.
Further research is necessary in order to determine whether existing open-source information is sufficient to permit meaningful description and comparative analysis of the duties, objectives, and responsibilities of these units.
Download: Military Cyber Defense Structures of NATO Members – An Overview