NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (NATO CCDCOE) has launched the second edition of the Cyber Commander’s Handbook today at the International Conference on Cyber Conflicts, CyCon 2025: The Next Step in Tallinn. The Handbook is designed to serve as a practical guide to support commanders and decision-makers in understanding, integrating, and employing cyber capabilities within multi-domain operations.
“Cyberspace is a constantly evolving domain therefore we must be prepared to review our interpretation and understanding of cyberspace topics”, said Frank Hickey, Editor of the Handbook.
Reflecting the evolving landscape of national cyber commands, doctrine, and operations, the handbook addresses the rapidly changing nature of cyberspace. While not a formal NATO doctrine, it is widely referenced across the Alliance and CCDCOE member nations as a trusted resource on cyberspace and for integrating cyber operations into military planning.
The Handbook outlines key concepts, planning considerations, organisational structures, and real-world challenges relevant to cyberspace operations at the operational and strategic levels. It is designed to bridge the gap between technical cyberspace expertise and military command decision-making, enabling leaders to make informed choices in complex and contested digital environments.
The Cyber Commanders’ Handbook 2 has been developed in close cooperation with subject matter experts from national cyber commands and other relevant national and NATO entities.
A digital copy of the handbook is available to CCDCOE Member Nations upon request and can be obtained through the national steering committee point of contact or by contacting publications@ccdcoe.org using a government email address.