The Urgency of Building a Strong Digital Backbone
Recently, NATO officials stressed the urgent need to develop sovereign cloud technologies, something essential for the organization’s mission and operations. Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, the Assistant Secretary General for Cyber and Digital Transformation, made these points clear during a talk at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
He pointed out how the conflict in Ukraine has shed light on technology’s game-changing role on the battlefieldߞthink drones and AI-driven targeting. This situation has highlighted the necessity for NATO to have robust, safe approaches for handling data and creating secure cloud platforms for processing it.
According to Ellermann-Kingombe, modern warfare isn’t just about having the most data; it’s about how quickly and effectively that data can be connected, understood, and acted upon. “Cloud technology is more than just a tech problem to solve—it’s pivotal to our collective defense strategy,” he affirmed.
“If cloud is critical, then speed becomes crucial,” he added with emphasis.
The international landscape poses daunting threats. Countries like China and Russia are making strides with technologies such as AI, machine learning, and quantum computing shortcomings, utilizing cloud infrastructures that advance at a rapid pace.
NATO’s digital shift must reflect this sense of urgency. Establishing a modern digital framework will not only improve intelligence sharing but also quicken decision-making and enhance operational readiness among all 32 member countries.
This digital drive aligns with NATO’s 2030 strategic objective aiming to strengthen deterrence and resilience while fostering tech innovation. This strategy, launched in 2020, discussed sovereignty but lacked mentions of digital or cloud sovereignty, which Ellermann-Kingombe brought to the forefront.
He made it clear that confidence through cooperation is key to achieving sovereignty. He outlined sovereignty in three dimensions: controlling access to data, operational control over systems, and ensuring technological continuity even if a provider exits or faces sanctions.
“We also need to acknowledge that achieving full sovereignty often limits scalability and the pace of innovation,” he said.
Ellermann-Kingombe predicted NATO members would have to employ a mix of cloud models ranging from globally integrated clouds to isolated environments tailored for sensitive data workloads.
This variety is not a weakness, but rather a practical representation of sovereignty in an intricate world structure, balancing national control with collective capabilities.
Importantly, he added that digital sovereignty doesn’t equate to isolation. American and European firms are already collaborating, as seen in Belgium where Cloud providers team up with local firms to ensure secure, innovative solutions respecting regional regulations.
Ellermann-Kingombe urged that we can maintain what needs to stay sovereign while still benefiting from NATO-wide collaboration, which drives innovation and resilience.
As for the future, he highlighted the necessity of creating command and control systems supported by advanced technologies like AI and quantum-resistant encryption. However, no single nation or company can tackle these challenges alone.
As Ellermann-Kingombe wrapped up, he reminded attendees of three vital points. First, we must act urgently, as threats evolve, requiring us to evolve faster simply to keep up. Second, collaboration should be prioritized; industry and academia need to work together to craft effective solutions. Lastly, system design must focus on enhancing allied trust and establishing solid partnerships in our digital future.
Engagement extends beyond traditional defense modalities, Ellermann-Kingombe remarked, as they need to connect with tech companies and startups that can move at a much quicker pace. Alongside this, a shift to modern systems calls for adept decision-makers familiar with contemporary technology, avoiding a completely bureaucratic approach.
Just shortly before his speech, the UK government announced a significant investment to bolster drone and counter-drone tech, allocating a whopping £140 million aimed at benefiting British SMEs and academic institutions, as part of a broader strategy within defense innovation funding.
This funding stream will support various initiatives, having already reinforced military capabilities with advancements in AI submarines and autonomous systems like drones to better support operations.
