The Network Operations Command (, COR) is an Italian

cyberwarfare Cyberwarfare is the use of cyberattack, cyber attacks against an enemy State (polity), state, causing comparable harm to actual warfare and/or disrupting vital computer systems. Some intended outcomes could be espionage, sabotage, propaganda, ...

Joint military unit. Until its merger with the ''Comando C4 Difesa'' in 2020, it was called '' Joint Cybernetic Operations Command'' (, CIOC).

History

The project of an Italian cyber command, modelled on the

United States Cyber Command United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). It unifies the direction of cyberspace operations, strengthens DoD cyberspace capabilities, and integra ...

was envisaged in the 2015 Defence White Paper. The Joint Cybernetic Operations Command, established on 30 September 2017, is intended to achieve

initial operational capability Initial operating capability or initial operational capability (IOC) is the state achieved when a capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form. The term is often used in government or military procurement. The United States D ...

by the end of 2018 and full operational capability by 2019. In 2020 CIOC was merged with ''Comando C4 Difesa'' and redenominated COR.

Tasks

The Network Operations Command has tasks in the areas of

information security Information security is the practice of protecting information by mitigating information risks. It is part of information risk management. It typically involves preventing or reducing the probability of unauthorized or inappropriate access to data ...

, computer network operations, cyber warfare and

cyber security Computer security (also cybersecurity, digital security, or information technology (IT) security) is a subdiscipline within the field of information security. It consists of the protection of computer software, systems and networks from thr ...

. It is designed to be a force provider. According to the former CIOC Commander, Air Force Brigadier General Francesco Vestito, the Command has two operational focus: cyber-defence and cyber network-defence. The cyber defence is related to the static defence and protection of the network, carried out in cooperation with the rest Italian military, in order to ensure the integrity of the network and the availability of the data flows. The cyber network-defence is related to the ability to carry out the vulnerability assessment and penetration test, in order to provide a quick intervention.

Cooperation

The Network Operations Command supports and protects military operations, conducts offensive operations, and functions as a coordinating body between the Italian Armed Forces and other Italian cyber security institutions. According to Defence

Undersecretary Undersecretary (or under secretary) is a title for a person who works for and has a lower rank than a secretary (person in charge). It is used in the executive branch of government, with different meanings in different political systems, and is a ...

Gioacchino Alfano, the Command is intended to operate mainly in joint, inter-agency and NATO contexts, as well as in coordination with university and economic worlds. With regard to the domestic cyber security organization, the Department of Information Security has the leadership, ''via'' the Deputy Director responsible for cyber security; the operational arms are the Joint Cybernetic Operations Command and the

State Police State police, provincial police or regional police are a type of sub-national territorial police force found in nations organized as federations, typically in North America, South Asia, and Oceania. These forces typically have jurisdiction o ...

''CNAIPIC'' (''Centro Anticrimine Informatico per la Protezione delle Infrastrutture Critiche'', Critical Facilities Anti-Informatic Crime Protection Centre), as well as the national CERT. Some other Ministries are linked to the national CERT through their own cyber infrastructures.

Organization

The Command is directly dependent on the Chief of the Defence Staff of the

Italian Armed Forces The Italian Armed Forces (, ) encompass the Italian Army, the Italian Navy and the Italian Air Force. A fourth Military branch, branch of the armed forces, known as the Carabinieri, take on the role as the nation's Gendarmerie, military police an ...

; in particular, it depends on the Deputy Commander for Operations. The Network Operations Command is currently organized as follows: * Command (''Comando'') * Administrative Office (''Ufficio Amministrazione'') * Prevention and Protection Service (''Servizio Prevenzione e Protezione'') * C4 Unit (''Reparto C4''), controls the Italian Defense Communication Network (DIFENET) and provides technical, logistical and configuration support to the Italian Joint C4 structure as a whole. It is organized on: ** Networks and Data Center Office (''Ufficio Reti e Data Center'') ** Centralized Systems and Software Office (''Ufficio Sistemi ed Applicativi Centralizzati'') ** ICT Operability Office (''Ufficio Operatività ICT''). * Security and Cyber Defense Unit (''Reparto Sicurezza e Cyber Defence''), controls the security of High Command ICT hardware and software assets. It is organized on: ** Defense CERT Office (''Ufficio CERT Difesa) ** Security Facilities Office (''Ufficio Infrastrutture di Sicurezza'') ** Classified Systems Office (''Ufficio Sistemi Classificati''. * Cyber Operations Office (''Reparto Cyber Operations''), controls both the active side of the cyber defense operations and the training activities. It is organized on: ** Training Office (''Ufficio Addestramento'') ** Cybernetic Activities Office (''Ufficio Attività Cibernetiche'') ** Operations Office (''Ufficio Operazioni'') The Command is to recruit also personnel not part of the military. The operational unit handles the Cyber Operational Cells, which are the actual operational pawns; those cells are tasked to operate on the field under the field commander, who may employ them in order to achieve his or her operational goals. The Command was located near the military intelligence service ''Centro Intelligence Interforze'' in Castel Malnome near

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, not far from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport. It is now located near the ''Forte Trionfale'' in Rome.

Notes and references

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External links

Official Website
Military units and formations of Italy Military units and formations established in 2017 Military communications units and formations Net-centric Computer security organizations Military communications of Italy