NATO has announced the establishment of the NATO Integrated Cyber Defence Centre (NICC) at its headquarters in Belgium, aimed at bolstering the alliance's cyber defence capabilities. The following move, unveiled during the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, DC, comes as NATO marks its 75th anniversary. The NICC will serve to alert military commanders about potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities, enhancing the protection of NATO's networks and operational use of cyberspace.

The decision to create the NICC is driven by the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks targeting NATO and its member nations, especially following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Notable Russian cyber threat actors like APT 29 and APT 28, along with various hacktivist groups, have been responsible for major cyberattacks, including the 2020 SolarWinds hack and recent attacks on tech companies and the EU diplomatic entities.

NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah announced the creation of the NICC on social media, highlighting its role in leveraging advanced technologies to boost situational awareness in cyberspace and enhance collective resilience and defence. The new centre will integrate civilian and military personnel from NATO countries and involve experts from the cybersecurity industry. Additionally, it will incorporate privately owned civilian critical infrastructure to support NATO's military activities.

The NICC will be based at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium, home to NATO's Allied Command Operations. Further details about the NICC and its operations are expected to be disclosed in the coming months.