The Record from Recorded Future News’ Post

Strengthening ties between NATO and the Asia-Pacific nations of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea (IP4) is critical to addressing growing security threats from China and Russia. As NATO prepares to release its first joint document outlining cooperation frameworks during a summit in Washington from July 9, it aims to enhance collaboration in cybersecurity and counter disinformation. This partnership will help fortify the IP4's defensive capabilities through participation in NATO's cyber exercises. By uniting the military alliance's expertise with the strategic significance of the Indo-Pacific region, NATO seeks to ensure greater regional security and stability in response to escalating threats. #NATO #IP4 #Cybersecurity #IndoPacific #ChinaRussiaThreats #StrategicPartnership

The coming NATO Integrated Cyber Defense Center (#NICC) will “enhance the protection of NATO and Allied networks and the use of cyberspace as an operational domain,” the organization announced on July 10th. Based at NATO’s strategic military headquarters at #SHAPE in Belgium, NATO says the new center will bring together #civilian and #military personnel from across the #NATO Enterprise, Allied countries and experts from industry. Cyber threats directed against NATO and its member states have increased with the war in Ukraine, but the aggressors are not limited to #Russia. NATO technologies and defense secrets are a prize target for any state not directly aligned with NATO or NATO-sympathetic nations. “The Center will inform NATO military commanders on possible threats and vulnerabilities in cyberspace, including privately-owned civilian #critical #infrastructures necessary to support military activities,” NATO said. #cybersecurity #reorganization #secondcoldwar

Germany to launch cyber military branch to combat Russian threats. Why it matters: 1. Germany's creation of a new cyber branch in its military highlights the nation's growing concern over rising Russian cyber aggression. It underlines the shift in national defense strategies, increasingly focusing on cyber threats, hybrid warfare, and disinformation campaigns. 2. The revamped military structure, centered on a unified command, aims to bolster the country’s capability to respond rapidly to the evolving digital battlefield. It reflects NATO's need for enhanced deterrence and rapid response capabilities to protect member nations. 3. The additional funding required for Germany to meet NATO's defense spending target underscores the financial costs of strengthening cyber defenses. This move also conveys Germany's determination to not appear vulnerable to cyber attacks, especially as Russian cyber threats escalate. Learn more by visiting The Record from Recorded Future News: https://lnkd.in/dQpdkPAS

NATO’s members have agreed to the construction of a new cyber-defense facility designed to help the military alliance build resilience and better respond to digital threats. As the alliance celebrated its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington DC from July 9 to 11, it revealed plans for a new NATO Integrated Cyber Defence Centre (NICC), to be based at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium. About the Center: • NICC will include civilian and military experts from member states. • It will feature advanced technology designed to enhance situational awareness and boost collective cyber-resilience and defense. • NICC’s main role will be to inform NATO’s military commanders about offensive cyber threats and vulnerabilities that could impact the alliance, including privately owned civilian critical infrastructure. Context and Activities: • NATO declared cyberspace a legitimate domain for war several years ago and has been enhancing its capabilities in this space. • The alliance regularly conducts cyber-defense exercises, involving non-NATO members like Japan and South Korea. • In 2022, NATO announced plans to develop rapid response capabilities to address significant malicious cyber activities. • Also in 2022, NATO successfully completed a trial of new “quantum safe” technology designed to mitigate the future risks posed by quantum computers cracking asymmetric cryptography. Motivation for the Initiative: • Activities like the NICC are being carried out against a backdrop of growing concerns about a potential Trump presidency undermining the alliance, as well as in response to increasingly aggressive moves by Russia, China, and other hostile states. • In October 2023, Microsoft warned that Chinese actors had pre-positioned themselves within critical infrastructure networks, potentially to launch destructive attacks in the event of a conflict. • Russia regularly conducts cyber-espionage campaigns against the alliance and has tried to use false narratives to undermine it in various countries. • The Kremlin still asserts that NATO “aggression” was the reason for its invasion of Ukraine. NICC will be able to draw on the expertise of new members Sweden and Finland in its efforts to strengthen NATO’s cyber defense capabilities.

Clavister, a leader in European cybersecurity for mission-critical applications, announced that it has been officially approved by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) for inclusion into the NATO Information Assurance Product Catalogue (NIAPC). Clavister has now been officially approved by the NCIA as a vendor for inclusion into the NIAPC. More specifically, the software empowering Clavister CyberArmour – Clavister’s family of firewall products targeting the defence sector – has been listed as a product verified for use by NATO. Through the listing, Clavister is eligible for selection into projects handling NATO information, following customary project-specific procurement. “We are happy to be recognised by the NCIA as a competent supplier to NATO nations and NATO projects,” comments John Vestberg, CEO of Clavister, and concludes: “By being listed in the NIAPC, we believe that our products and technology can reach an even broader defence community.” Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dc5CFczN #NATO #NCIA #Clavister #cyber #defence #security #IT #technology #military #cyberdefence #CyberArmour

Resilience isn’t enough, NATO must be ‘proactive’ for cyberdefense, warns official. Why it matters: 1. NATO needs a proactive cyber strategy to ensure military operations are not disrupted by potential cyberattacks, according to Christian-Marc Lifländer, the head of NATO's cyber and hybrid policy section. He suggests the current strategy of resilience alone is failing to deter adversaries. 2. A proactive cyber element is essential for NATO's new cyber center in Belgium. This would involve anticipating, precluding, inhibiting, or otherwise constraining adversaries’ cyber efforts in a post-armed conflict environment. 3. The challenge lies in aligning the 32 NATO members with this proactive approach. Currently, NATO's joint forces do not undertake cyber operations outside of the defensive space during peacetime, with its Sovereign Cyber Effects Provided Voluntarily by Allies (SCEPVA) framework not covering activities needed to ensure uninterrupted military operations. Learn more by visiting The Record from Recorded Future News: https://lnkd.in/eE9tHnpU

South Korea is enhancing its defense capabilities by participating in a US-led international cyber military exercise with the Five Eyes alliance. On Sunday, South Korea’s Cyber Operations Command announced that nine of its personnel will take part in the “Cyber Flag” exercise, scheduled to run from May 5 to 11 in Virginia. According to the press release, 18 countries are participating in this year’s cyber military drill. The South Korean military has not disclosed the names of other participating countries beyond the Five Eyes member states: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The Cyber Flag is an annual multinational exercise that has been hosted by the U.S. Cyber Command since 2011. Supported by the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, it seeks to strengthen cooperation and enhance response capabilities among its allies. This year marks South Korea’s third time participating in the exercise. The nation first joined in 2022, when 18 personnel from various military units participated in a drill alongside representatives from 24 countries. #CyberFlag #military #cyber #exercise #drill #US #FiveEyes https://lnkd.in/gjZkpVqS

NATO moves ‘most experienced and expert individual’ on cyber out of cyber section. Key takeaways: 1. The departure of Christian-Marc Lifländer from NATO's cyber policy unit signals a major personnel shift at a crucial moment of evolving security threats, underlining how personnel changes can impact strategic doctrine. 2. Lifländer’s influential decision to establish an integrated cyber defense center points to the alliance's increasing emphasis on proactivity in the digital realm; his exit potentially impacts NATO's cyber policies' direction and pace. 3. The role swap with Alexandre Monéger, previously handling defense policy and planning for NATO, indicates a possible recalibration of focus within the organization, reflecting evolving geopolitics and recent threats such as Russia's aggression. Learn more by visiting The Record from Recorded Future News: https://lnkd.in/e3i-x4pH

Good initiative, and more of these initiatives are needed going forward. NATO and its Allies rely on strong collaboration, and resilient cyber defense to fulfil the Alliance’s core tasks of deterrence and defense, crisisprevention and management, and cooperative security. #nato #cyberdefense #cyberresilience #eu

Missile command centers often rely on legacy systems and technologies with inherent security vulnerabilities. Exploiting these vulnerabilities through advanced cyberattacks, such as zero-day exploits or sophisticated malware, could bypass traditional defenses and compromise the integrity and availability of critical systems. A data breach in missile command centers can have far-reaching geopolitical ramifications, affecting diplomatic relations, international security alliances, and strategic stability. The perception of vulnerability in a nation's defense infrastructure may erode confidence among allies and embolden adversaries, shaping geopolitical dynamics and global security perceptions. The revelation of a data breach in missile command centers can undermine public confidence in government institutions, military leadership, and national security apparatus. Transparency, accountability, and effective communication are crucial for managing public perceptions and maintaining trust in the resilience of defense systems.