Protection
CONFERENCE REPORT
Go Connected + Go Smart = Zero Distance AFCEA Europe TechNet International 2013, Lisbon 23 to 24 October 2013 TechNet International 2013 was co-hosted by the Portuguese AFCEA Chapter, “one of the most active in Europe” as General Manager AFCEA Europe, Major General (ret.) Klaus-Peter Treche, said in his opening remarks before some 330 participants in this two-day conference plus exhibition. Portugal’s interest in this subject was clear from the strong and active participation by the country’s authorities in this event organised under the high patronage of the Portuguese Minister of Defence. Both the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Berta Cabral, and the Joint Chief of Staff of Portugal Chief of Defence, Vice Admiral Pereira da Cunha, underscored their country’s desire not only to overcome the current financial crisis but also to conduct the reforms needed for Portugal to remain a reliable partner both within NATO and the European Union.
Key elements of the conference A key issue addressed by this Conference organised in cooperation with the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency, in addition to the ongoing NATO command structure and agency reform, was that of the characteristics of modern C4ISR applications, which featured throughout the two days of speeches and panel discussions, in connection with the question of mobile solutions for armed forces.
It came as no surprise, given the nation hosting this conference, that a broad spectrum of maritime security and awareness aspects was also presented and discussed.
Security and mobility By sheer coincidence, the news that the German Chancellor’s cell phone had apparently been under NSA surveillance for years broke during the first morning of the conference. “We can provide better protection” was the general comment of the industries participating in the Conference. With reference to the risk of industrial espionage, some speakers admitted that one weak point in this field is the tendency of companies to neglect the current cyber protection requirements.
Keynote speeches: accounts of practical experience The first keynote speech was delivered by the former Commander, ISAF Regional Command North and Commander of the German ISAF contingent in Afghanistan, LtGen Erich Pfeffer, who gave an account of his own experience of C4ISR in Afghanistan. He explained that it was possible but difficult to guarantee secured mobility during operations. Rapid Environmental Assessment of the Maritime Battlespace was the subject of the second keynote speech delivered by
General Manager AFCEA Europe, Major General (ret.) Klaus-Peter Treche, during his opening speech. From left to right: Mr. Chuck Shawcross, Director of Service Strategy, NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA); Vice-Admiral José Domingos Pereira da Cunha, Chief of the Joint Staff, CHOD Portugal; Major General Klaus-Peter Treche, DEU AF (Ret.), General Manager, AFCEA Europe; Dra. Berta Maria Correia de Almeida de photo: Jürgen C. Rosenthal Melo Cabral, Secretary of State Assistant to the Minister of National Defence, Portugal
61
