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During the last decades modern societies became more and more networked, generating a worldwide dependence to Internet and Cyberspace. This growing dependency is influencing the international security environment and the Alliance strategic vision, highlighting the need of setting-up a cooperative Cyber Defence Capability.

In the area of Cyber Defence, there are already three Smart Defence Projects: Multinational Cyber Defence Capability Development (MNCD2), Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP) and Multinational Cyber Defence Education and Training (MNCDE&T). NATO’s Smart Defence calls for a renewed cooperation culture and requires an innovative approach in order to better enhance the Alliance’s Cyber Defence.

At the Warsaw Summit, in July 2016, Allies formally assumed their commitment to strengthen their own Cyber Defence, and recognized cyberspace as a new operational domain. NATO leaders designated cyberspace as a ‘domain’, alongside land, sea and air. In order to better integrate cyber into planning and operations, NATO is also setting up a Cyber Operations Centre, as part of the new NATO Command Structure.

The joint declaration, signed in Warsaw, gave a new impetus and substance to NATO-EU cooperation, highlighting the need to adopt a multidimensional framework (NATO-EU) and a synergetic approach in order to reinforce the NATO-EU complementarity of efforts on the field of Cyber Security and Cyber Defence.

Cyber threats require a "all of state" response at both civilian and military arena, calling for the development of a highly skillful workforce, the reason why NATO and EU recognizes Cyber Defense Education and Training Cyber as one of the top level strategic priorities. The illiterates of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

Cyber resilience and preparedness are major tasks for NATO and EU operations and missions, where Cyber Security and Cyber Defence are closely connected as they address the same threats, requiring life-long learning, following the same basic principles and requiring similar measures and procedures.