NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) has published a food for thought paper on cyber considerations for military mobility. The paper highlights effects in or through cyberspace that may affect military mobility.
The paper titled Cyber Considerations for Military Mobility authored by Lt.Col. Henrik Beckvard and Philippe Zotz highlights various focal points for cybersecurity in military mobility such as storage facilities, sea transportation, seaports, inland waterway transportation, air transportation, airports, rail transportation and road transportation and discusses the central role of critical infrastructure and critical information infrastructure. The paper provides a high-level overview of possible cyber vulnerabilities for military mobility and aims to advance the discourse on the topic.
The study concludes that clear analysis and mapping of vulnerabilities that factors cyber considerations into the planning process of military mobility should become the norm. This encompasses making contingency plans and understanding the roles and responsibilities of
host nation authorities and other actors. The capability to flexibly adapt transport modes depending on their availability – may be one way of addressing the effects of a cyberattack while remaining reliable and efficient.
With the rollout of 5G and subsequent technologies, military mobility operations will face new opportunities and risks. The interoperability of new technologies and their vulnerabilities must be considered throughout the whole route.
This publication is a product of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. It does not necessarily reflect the policy or the opinion of the Centre or NATO. The CCDCOE is a NATO-accredited cyber defence hub focusing on research, training and exercises. It represents a community of NATO nations and partners of the Alliance providing a 360-degree look at cyber defence, with expertise in the areas of technology, strategy, operations and law.