16 May 2007

NATO Military Committee visits the NATO Communications & Information Systems Services Agency in Mons, Belgium NATO’s most senior military body recently saw how NATO’s computer, telephone, and video-teleconference networks are monitored and controlled in support of Alliance operations and exercises. NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency (NCSA) leadership briefed the Military Committee on a variety of subjects including the Agency’s recent support to NATO operations, particularly in Afghanistan; the need for flexible, scalable and easily transportable CIS equipment for deployed operations; and support to NATO’s major headquarters. The visit included a tour of the NATO Information Security Technical Centre operated by NCSA and the Agency’s Primary Network Control Centre. NCSA is a service provider to its NATO and national customers. Wherever NATO deploys on operations or exercises, NCSA is there, providing computer, telephone, and video-teleconference services in support of the mission. NCSA comprises a central headquarters staff co-located with Allied Command Operations at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium; two deployable NATO Signal Battalions, each with four deployable communication modules, comparable in size and mandate to national signals companies; ten Sectors that support the 10 major headquarters in NATO; and the NATO Communication and Information Systems (CIS) School in Latina, Italy. For more information about NCSA:  www.ncsa.nato.int.

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