How Do NATO Members Define Cyber Operations?

This paper presents a systematic mapping study of NATO member states prominent in the cyber domain, and their interpretation of cyber terminology. NATO nations currently participate in a range of cyber exercises, but there is no unified conceptual framework for accepted cyberspace definitions to ensure interoperability. There is therefore a requirement for a common understanding of how member states define cyber operations. This study seeks to determine if the doctrinal publications of NATO member states can answer the research question - How do NATO members define cyber operations? The Systematic Mapping Study aims to provide a broad overview of the research area to provide evidence on the topic and its quantity. 60 national doctrinal publications were reviewed from 12 prominent NATO nations. Of these, ten defined cyber operations in a similar manner providing coherency in understanding the concepts involved. This provides a basis for successful cyber operations and exercises.