Cyber Security Incident Responder

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting  

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Role ID -C005302

Role Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Section Head of the CSIRT, the contractor shall:

• Provision 24/7 Cyber Security Incident Response (Triage, Contain, Eradicate, Recover) activities, during normal working hours and occasional on-call duties, including weekends and holidays
• Deliver technical coordination, support, and assistance in respect of Cyber Security Incident Response to NATO CIS Operating Authorities, including but not limited to: NATO Nations, Partner Nations, non-Governmental Organisations and Industry Partners.
• Lead, be a member of, or support Cyber Security Response Teams designated to extend the NCSC Incident Response coverage to one or multiple physical locations, including within the NATO Alliance Operations and Missions.
• Build, manage the lifecycle of, and maintain the taxonomy related to the Branch's information.
• Manage the content of different information portals within the agreed taxonomy.
• Design, create and distribute a variety of reports, briefings and dashboards, to different communities, including: (Business owners, operational community, IT service management, cyber security)
• Maintain a network of cyber security peers across and beyond the NATO Enterprise to facilitate communications and coordination of urgent actions when the need arises.
• Research and identify, document and implement improvements to the Incident Response activities, in order to enhance and optimise current best practice to meet new and developing threats.
• Produce Standard Operating Procedure and Instructions covering all aspects of Incident Response.
• 1Participate in, and act as an Incident Response subject matter expert, in various meetings: within the CSIRT, across the sections in the Defend branch, across the NATO Enterprise, including within the NICC, CMAWG, CRMG and other Enterprise-level meetings, as well as within the context of a Cyber Incident Task force.

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• At least 4 years practical experience in cyber security incident response, or a directly connected field such as network analysis, digital forensics, malware analysis or threat hunting. It is noted that Industry often separates responsibilities in such a way that personnel in these roles may also be performing incident response;
• Comprehensive understanding of the principles of Computer and Communication Security, networking, and the vulnerabilities of modern operating systems and applications acquired through a blend of academic or professional training coupled with practical professional experience;
• Recent practical, hands-on experience of Intrusion Detection and Incident Response (TRIAGE, Contain, Eradicate, Recover) in an enterprise-level Computer Emergency Response Team, ideally making use of the MITRE ATT&CK framework;
• At least 3 years experience in Information and Knowledge Management, ideally in the field of Cyber Security
• Experience in interfacing with IT Service Management

Desirable Skills, Experience, Education and Certifications

• Hold a University degree in Cyber Security or IT Security-related discipline or Information Management and 3 years post-related experience;
• Or exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the demonstration of a candidate's particular abilities or experience that is/are of interest to NCIA, that is, at least 10 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to those in this Statement of Work.
• Practical experience working with, and/or formal research, of the use of AI/LLM within Cyber Security Defense (not from a red team / penetration testing perspective)
• Practical experience in the management of vulnerabilities, from ingestion, scoring, assessing prioritization of, and potential impact to CIS
• Hold relevant certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GCIH or GIAC/GCIM Security (this list is not exhaustive)
• Hold a professional certification on IT Service Management.
• In-depth knowledge of potential security event sources and their interpretation and analysis in support of the incident detection and handling processes
• Practical hands-on experience in System and Network administration to include Network (TCP/IP) Engineering
• Very good communication and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of vulnerability assessment and scoring (CVSS, SSVC, CVD)
• Relevant certifications in cyber security, such as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or GIAC Security.
• Experience in working for or supporting a military or governmental organization.
• Recent experience in a large organisational CERT, especially within the Incident Response Team.
• Experience in actively contributing to industry recognized communities for incident response, such as FIRST.org.

Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

Working Policy

• Full time On-site
  • Occasional on-call duties after working hours, on weekends or holidays are required
  • In case of a major Cyber Security Incident, the incumbent may be required to work extended hours and on shifts, including nights and weekends, to provide a 24/7 Cyber Security Incident Response

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites in Belgium may be required for in-person or department meetings. In such cases the contractor will be reimbursed for travel costs according to NATO regulations for traveling on NATO duty.
• Each travel will be a maximum of 2 days lengths and happening no more than once per 2 months.

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance