How NATO can turn data into defense advantage

NATO is pushing to treat data as a core combat asset rather than a support function, arguing that information advantage increasingly determines battlefield outcomes. The alliance’s approach calls for military leaders to prioritize data collection, sharing, and analysis across member states and commands. This matters because fragmented national systems and inconsistent data standards can slow decision-making and undermine coordination in a crisis. The shift implies new investment in data infrastructure, interoperability, and governance across the alliance. What to watch next: how NATO translates the concept into concrete standards, funding, and cross-border data-sharing arrangements among members.