Leidos has announced the achievement of an $87 million contract with NATO’s Communications and Information Agency, aimed at developing a centralized IT solution through private cloud technology. This initiative is designed to bolster the alliance’s cybersecurity measures and enhance network resilience.
Under the terms of the contract, Leidos will spearhead a multinational team that includes partners such as Thales in France, CGI in Germany, Leonardo in Italy, as well as UK-based LA International and NEXOR. This collaborative effort focuses on improving network scalability and facilitating NATO’s broader digital transformation objectives.
The comprehensive system will incorporate several vital functions, including IT service management and cybersecurity, to enhance interoperability and command efficiency across NATO’s operational network. According to Steve Hull, president of Leidos’ digital modernization sector, this project underlines the company’s ongoing commitment to NATO. Hull emphasized that it utilizes innovative solutions to provide secure, mission-ready capabilities that can adapt to changing operational requirements.
He further noted that this initiative will foster more integrated collaboration across trans-Atlantic defense networks, enabling NATO personnel to remain securely connected and share critical information with greater speed, agility, and assurance.
In parallel to these developments, NATO is intensifying its cyber defense efforts by setting up a new cyber center to improve coordination and resilience against emerging threats. Announced last July, the NATO Integrated Cyber Defence Centre will be situated at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Mons, Belgium. This center is expected to reinforce network reliability, enhance situational awareness, and optimize operational coordination.
These initiatives gain particular significance in light of a significant 2023 cyberattack attributed to the hacktivist group SiegedSec, which compromised sensitive planning and research files while disrupting NATO’s unclassified websites. The breach raised serious concerns regarding the alliance’s ability to secure communications essential for sharing intelligence on emerging threats, highlighting the urgent need for advancements in cyber defense and network security within NATO.
