NATO launches Industry Cyber Partnership
On 17 September 2014, NATO launched an initiative to boost cooperation with the private sector on cyber threats and challenges. The NATO Industry Cyber Partnership (NICP) was presented at a two-day cyber conference held in Mons, Belgium, where 1500 industry leaders and policy makers gathered to discuss cyber collaboration.
From left to right: The official launch of NATO’s Industry Cyber partnership; Ambassador Sorin Dimitru Ducaru, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges; Kusti Salm, Estonian Ministry of Defence; Mr Chris Gibson, Director Computer Emergency Response Team UK; Rear Admiral Rob Bauer, Director Plans, Netherlands Ministry of Defence and Mr Koen Gijsbers, General Manager, NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency.
The NICP was earlier endorsed at the Wales Summit on 5 September by the 28 Allies. It recognises the importance of working with industry partners to enable the Alliance to achieve its cyber defence policy’s objectives.
“Technological innovation and expertise from the private sector are crucial,” said Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, who officially presented the initiative to the cyber conference. “Collaboration with industry, through the NICP, is an essential way of enhancing our cyber resilience,” added Ambassador Ducaru.
The increasing threat posed by cyber attacks was one of the key agenda items at the NATO Summit, where Heads of State and Government declared that “cyber attacks can reach a threshold that threatens national and Euro-Atlantic prosperity, security and stability”.
The launch of the NICP is a clear demonstration that NATO and industry can work effectively together - sharing information, experience and expertise to counter cyber threats.