Why Digital Transformation Matters
NATO faces a complex and rapidly changing security environment. To deter threats and respond effectively, Allies must be able to operate seamlessly across land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains, while coordinating with civilian instruments of power. This is the essence of Multi-Domain Operations. But without the ability to share and exploit data across these domains, orchestrating such operations at speed becomes impossible.
Digital Transformation is the foundation that enables Multi-Domain Operations. It ensures that information flows securely and reliably across, empowering commanders and decision-makers to act quickly and confidently. In short, Digital Transformation turns data into an operational advantage.
Data Centricity: An Important Step Toward Multi-Domain Operations
Central to this transformation is data centricity. Data centricity means treating data as a strategic asset that is discoverable, accessible, trusted, secure, and shared. NATO’s ability to deter, defend, and manage crises depends on harnessing data from across all sources.
Currently, some of NATO’s data is fragmented and siloed. Legacy systems often cannot easily talk to one another, limiting collaboration and slowing decision-making. Exercises and studies have shown that without shared, curated, and trusted data, interoperability suffers and operational effectiveness declines, and there is a severely increased risk of cybersecurity breaches.
The Alliance Data Sharing Ecosystem (ADSE)
The Alliance Data Sharing Ecosystem (ADSE) is NATO’s answer to the challenge of data centricity. Highlighted as one of three strategic focus areas to achieve an MDO-enabled Alliance by 2030, ADSE will provide a trusted cloud-native environment for Allies, partners, and stakeholders to connect and share data.
ADSE is designed as a federation of “data lakes” which are large repositories that store a variety of information until needed. These “data lakes” span functional areas such as logistics, command and control, intelligence, space, and finance enabling broad access and analysis across the Alliance. It will apply common governance, standards, and identity management to ensure security and trust. By doing so, ADSE will make data easier to find, manage, and use.
Implementation is already underway. Initial pilot projects with NATO communities of interest are planned by late 2025, focusing on classified data sharing. These will expand to include industry, academia, and research partners, with full development expected by 2028.
By consolidating data into this shared ecosystem and accelerating migration to private and hybrid clouds, NATO will be able to apply advanced tools, such as artificial intelligence, automation and digital engineering more effectively. This will transform raw information into actionable insights that can guide operations at the speed of relevance, accelerating NATO’s own decision loop while helping to anticipate and counter those of potential adversaries.
Digital Transformation is the key enabler of NATO’s Multi-Domain Operations — unlocking the full power of data to gain decisive advantage.
– Samantha Paarlberg
Digital Transformation Section Head
Allied Command Transformation
From Data to Decision Advantage
Once ADSE is in place, the true power of Digital Transformation can be realized. With data securely available across the enterprise, applications and tools will drive cohesion through an authoritative data source, and more effective decision making. This will allow NATO forces to synchronize effects across operational domains (land, air, maritime, space, and cyber) faster than potential adversaries.
In practice, this means a ship commander could access the same real-time intelligence as an air operations centre or a cyber team, all drawn from the same trusted source. Decisions that once took hours or days could be made in minutes, significantly strengthening deterrence and defence.
Looking Ahead
The journey to a Multi-Domain Operations-enabled Alliance begins with Digital Transformation. It starts by building a culture of data sharing, it advances through the principle of data centricity, ensuring that data is treated as a vital asset. It comes to life through the Alliance Data Sharing Ecosystem, which will enable NATO to connect, exploit, and act on data collectively.
By embedding digital practices and creating the conditions for innovation, ACT is ensuring that NATO remains agile, interoperable, and technologically superior. At its core, Digital Transformation reshapes both the tools NATO employs and the mindset guiding their use.