NATO is prioritizing the security of its site-specific systems with the deployment of its proprietary cyber defense capability, built in partnership with Leonardo, to more than 65 alliance offices in 29 countries.
Italy’s Leonardo and NATO’s Communication and Information (NCI) Agency first designed the NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) in 2014, which has now reached full operational capability, the organization announced at its cyber symposium in Mons, Belgium, on Oct. 18.
The system acts as a cyber monitoring and response system for portable devices and entire NATO networks, including its headquarters and Allied Air Command center.
“Implementing cyber security protection for NATO sites is extraordinarily challenging due to its complex and wide scope: every site has different needs and requires a different blend of solutions, all this to be integrated with the centralized operations center,” Mario Beccia, NCI Agency’s NCIRC project manager, said in a statement. “We worked hard to address these challenges and bring forward the success of the NCIRC, in order to fulfill NATO’s cyber security objectives.”
NCIRC is now in use at every NATO headquarters in Europe, as NATO sought to build its cyber defense capabilities as part of its Alliance’s Cyber Defence Action Plan.
Leonardo was awarded a $22.3 million contract in August 2015 to work with the NCI Agency on the capability extension project.