NCI signs new cyber sharing agreement

An industry partnership agreement signed between the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency and FireEye will see increased cyber information sharing in order to strengthen NATO and industry collective cyber defences.

The agreement will see information on cyber threats shared in a timely manner to allow both organisations to enhance situational awareness and better protect their networks. The rapid and early bilateral exchange of non-classified technical information related to cyber threats and vulnerabilities will be integrated into the NCI Agency’s 24/7 detection and prevention processes further enhancing NATO’s cyber security posture. 

The need to enhance information sharing and strengthen industry partnerships to address cyber challenges was a key theme of this year’s NATO Warsaw Summit.

The agreement with FireEye - the ninth to be signed in a series of agreements - represents an important part of the effort to bolster the alliance’s cyber defences under the NATO Industry Cyber Partnership (NICP). Alliance heads of state and government endorsed the NICP in 2014 to pave the way for collaboration with the private sector in addressing cyber threats and risks. 

Koen Gijsbers, general manager of the NCI Agency, said: ‘If we are going to move faster than the cyber threats we face, then it is absolutely imperative that we exchange timely and actionable threat information with industry.

‘Our existing IPAs have already shown impressive results that are making a real difference to the NCI Agency and our industry partners. FireEye’s depth of expertise from responding to many of the largest cyber breaches in the world will be very valuable to the IPA framework. We look forward to a productive partnership.’