393. The central purpose of standardization is to enable interoperability in a multi-vendor, multi-network, multi-service environment. The absence of technical interoperability must not be the reason why final services for which there is operational need do not come into being.

394. Within NATO, interoperability is defined as, the ability to act together coherently, effectively and efficiently to achieve Allied tactical, operational and strategic objectives. In the context of information exchange, interoperability means that a system, unit or forces of any service, nation can transmit data to and receive data from any other system, unit or forces of any service or nation, and use the exchanged data to operate effectively together.

395. NATO, through its interoperability directive, has recognized that widespread interoperability is a key component in achieving effective and efficient operations. In many of the operations world-wide in which NATO Nations are engaged, they participate together with a wide variety of other organizations on the ground. Such organizations include coalition partners from non-NATO Nations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) e.g. Aid Agencies and industry partners. The NATO Interoperability Standards and Profiles (NISP) is the governing authoritative reference for NATO interoperability profiles and is co-published with the Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB) as an Allied Data Publication (ADatP-34). It provides the necessary guidance and technical components to support project implementations and transition to NATO Network Enabled Capability (NNEC).