NATO’s new strategic concept in cybersecurity issues in the context of up-to-the date vulnerability and threat information

Abstract

The focus of the article revolves around NATO’s roadmap of smart defense against cyber attacks as the bedrock of Euro-Atlantic security. The author discloses NATO’S new policy and cutting-edge technical initiatives, aimed at focusing on countering global threats and cyber security challenges. It is stressed out, that new ideas towards a more synergetic approach between all the NATO Cyber Defense agencies should be explored to develop a shared  framework for cybersecurity that might provide up-to-the date intelligence in order to ensure the development, acquisition and maintenance of the necessary military capabilities. The research highlights the core aspects of the 2010 Lisbon Summit that adopted NATO’s Strategic Concept ‘Active Engagement, Modern Defense: Strategic Concept for the Members of the North Atlantic. Treaty Organization’, that recognizes Cyber Defense as one of its strategic priorities. In particular, to foster Allied Nations’ cooperative efforts to counter terrorism, cyber attacks, prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMD), Reinforce energy security and environmental constraints.
Develop the capacity to contribute to energy security, including protection of critical energy infrastructure and transit areas and lines, cooperation with partners, and consultations among Allies on the basis of  trategic assessments and contingency planning; In July 2011, NATO Defense Ministers adopted revised NATO Policy on Cyber Defense, which highlighted three areas:

• The principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, which involve the assistance provided only upon request, in any other cases, the principle of selfresponsibility of sovereign states is applied;

• Avoiding unnecessary duplication of the structures or capabilities and approaches on the international, regional and national levels;

• Collaboration based on trust, with regard to the potential sensitivity and vulnerability of the system, the access to which has to be given.

After the 2014 Wales Summit, in the revised NATO Cyber Defense Policy, cyber threats were identified as a potential prerequisite for collective defense under the Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. Noteworthy, Cyber Security is responsible for providing the broad spectrum of services in the following specialist security areas: CIS Security, Cyber Defense, Information Assurance, and Computer & Communications Security. Cyber defense is provided by many Alliance bodies: any NATO response concerning collective defense against cyber attacks will be subordinated to the North Atlantic Council (NAC), The Cyber Defense Committee (CDC) – the
leading advisory body of the NAC. The executive level is represented by The Cyber Defense Management Board (CDMB), NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency), Cyber Security incorporates the NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) Technical Centre, providing specialist services to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber security incidents.