SCHOOL THESIS

MINDFUL that in the years since the first NORAD Agreement was
concluded on May 12, 1958, NORAD, as a distinct command, has evolved
to address the continuing changes in the nature of the threats to North
America and that it will need to continue to adapt to future shared security
interests. (Emphasis added.) 106
As has been shown, numerous U.S. national strategies recommend working with
international organizations to develop international watch-and-warning networks in order
to detect and prevent cyber attacks. For example, the Cyberspace Policy Review
recommended the U.S. develop international cybersecurity frameworks and partnerships,
while the NSS recommended expanding international partnerships regarding network
defense and response to cyber attack.
From a U.S. military cyberspace strategy perspective, the NMS-CO identified the
need to integrate allies early in the planning process to ensure mission success. One of its
three broad themes stressed the need to deepen security relationships with our allies.
Finally, from a Canadian perspective, both Canada’s civilian and military
strategies mirror these same themes of working with international organizations to
develop international watch-and-warning networks in order to detect and prevent cyber
attacks. CAF will continue to collaborate with the U.S. counterparts as partners in
NORAD as it evolves to meet future threats while pursuing effective collaboration on
operations in North America and abroad.
In summary, the U.S. and Canada strategic cyberspace guidance all propose a
closer working arrangement between each country as both deal with growing cyberspace
threats. These documents significantly inform the discussion regarding NORAD potential
new role in cyberspace threat information and attack assessment.
106106 North American Aerospace Defense Command, “NORAD Agreement,” accessed 3 Feb 2014,
http://www.norad.mil/AboutNORAD/NORADAgreement.aspx.
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