D
efense of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in cyberspace
requires an understanding of the threats the alliance must face, knowing
where it must act, and ensuring that the alliance has the capabilities and
capacity available to successfully defend itself. Since the end of the Cold
War, NATO has expanded its reach not only in terms of membership and partners,
but also in terms of its operations. As a globally engaged organization, NATO must
be prepared to address cyber threats that emanate from anywhere in the world.
Truly integrating cyber operations into the alliance requires broadly educating the
members of the alliance on operations in cyberspace; cyber operational planning,
training, and exercises to create the “muscle memory” necessary; and rigorously
assessing lessons learned as they emerge.
At the June 2016 Defense Ministerial Meeting, the NATO Defense Ministers
agreed to recognize cyberspace as an operational domain, and that decision was
endorsed and reaffirmed at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016. As part
of this effort, NATO directed the development of an implementation roadmap for
LILLIAN ABLON, ANIKA BINNENDIJK, QUENTIN E. HODGSON, BILYANA LILLY, SASHA ROMANOSKY, DAVID SENTY,
JULIA A. THOMPSON
Operationalizing Cyberspace as a
Military Domain
Lessons for NATO
C O R P O R A T I O N
Perspective
EXPERT INSIGHTS ON A TIMELY POLICY ISSUE
June 2019
