Chapter 1. Introduction

1. The NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles (NISP) is developed by the NATO Consultation, Command and Control (C3) Board Interoperability Profiles Capability Team (IP CaT).

2. The NISP will be made available to the general public as ADatP-34(L) when approved by the C3 Board[1].

3. The included interoperability standards and profiles (Volume 2) are mandatory for use in NATO common funded Communications and Information Systems (CIS). Volume 3 contains candidate standards and profiles.

4. In case of conflict between any recommended non-NATO[2] standard and relevant NATO standard, the definition of the latter prevails.

5. In the NISP the keywords "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" are to be interpreted as described in [IETF RFC 2119].

Table 1.1. Abbreviations
Abbreviation Full Text
ABB

Architecture Building Block

ACaT

Architecture Capability Team

ACP

Allied Communications Publication

AdatP-34

Allied Data Publication - Cover publication for the NISP

BSP

Basic Standards Profile

C3

Consultation, Command and Control

CCEB

Combined Communications Electronic Board (military communications-electronics organization established among five nations: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States)

CESF

Core Enterprise Services Framework

COI

Community of Interest

CIAV (WG)

Coalition Interoperability Assurance and Validation (Working Group)

CIS

Communication and Information Systems

CWIX

Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXploration, eXperimentation, eXamination eXercise

DOTMLPFI

Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities and Interoperability

EAPC

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

FMN

Federated Mission Networking

IOP

Interoperability Point

IP CaT

Interoperability Profiles Capability Team

MIP

Multilateral Interoperability Programme

NAF

NATO Architecture Framework

NDPP

NATO Defence Planning Process

NISP

NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NGO

Non govermental organization

RFC

Request for Change

SDS

Service Data Sheet

SIOP

Service Interoperability Point

Definition is to be found in EAPC(AC/322)D (2006)0002-REV 1): SIOP is a reference point within an architecture where one or more service interfaces are physically or logically instantiated to allow systems delivering the same service using different protocols to interoperate.

Note: A service interoperability point serves as the focal point for service interoperability between interconnected systems, and may be logically located at any level within the components, and its detailed technical specification is contained within a service interface profile.

SIP

Service Interface Profile

SME

Subject Matter Expert

SOA

Service Oriented Architecture

STANAG

NATO abbreviation for STANdardization AGreement, which set up processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance.

TACOMS

Tactical Communication Programme


1.1. Purpose of the NISP

6. NISP gives guidelines to capability planners, programme managers and test managers for NATO common funded systems in the short or mid-term timeframes.

7. The NISP prescribes the necessary technical standards and profiles to achieve interoperability of Communications and Information Systems in support of NATO's missions and operations. In accordance with the Alliance C3 Strategy (ref. C-M(2014)0016) all NATO Enterprise (ref. C-M(2014)0061) entities shall adhere to the NISP mandatory standards and profiles in volume 2.

8. Other activities that assure interoperability within the alliance should list their profiles in the NISP.



[1] AC/322-N(2019)0052-REV1-COR-1 approved ADatP-34(L)

[2] ISO or other recognized non-NATO standards organization