Joint Sigint Cyber Unit
TheJoint Sigint Cyber Unit(JSCU) is a Dutch government organisation, which was founded in 2013[1]and became operational on June 15, 2014.[2]JSCU's primary tasks are intercepting radio and satellite traffic (Sigint) and obtaining intelligence throughcyber-operations. The organisation cooperates closely with allied foreign intelligence agencies.[3]
General
[edit]The decision to create a joint intelligence organisation was made in 2011.[4]Preparations for the creation of the JSCU began in late 2012, by a joint team from theGeneral Intelligence and Security Service(AIVD) and theDutch Military Intelligence and Security Service(MIVD) under the nameProject Symbolon.[5]The Joint Sigint Cyber Unit is governed by these two services.
The JSCU headquarters is located in theAIVDbuilding inZoetermeer,and houses approximately 350 employees.[3]Other JSCU divisions are housed with theMIVDinThe Hague.[6]
Before the founding of the JSCU, theNationale SIGINT Organisatie(NSO) was the organisation tasked with interception of radio and satellite traffic. The NSO also operated under the joint command of the AIVD and MIVD. The NSO formally became part of JSCU when it was created on June 15, 2014.
The JSCU specializes inSigintand Cyber. Sigint includes intelligence gathered from (tele)communications. AIVD defines 'Cyber' as a group of activities related to computer networks and data streams. Examples given are mapping out the Internet landscape in (new) mission areas, informing allies about dangerouscomputer viruses,or hacking terrorist websites.[7]
Interception stations
[edit]To intercept wireless communication the JSCU operates two interception stations, formerly managed by theNSO:atBurumfor the interception of satellite traffic and atEibergenfor the interception of high-frequency radio traffic.
Burum
[edit]
The interception station for satellite traffic is located inBurum(Kollumerland c.a.municipality) in the province ofFriesland.It became fully operational in 2006. Construction of this station (officially named 'Satelliet Grondstation Burum') began in 2005 as a replacement for the former ground station inZoutkampin northernGroningen.
The telecom operatorStratos(formerlyXantic), operates a satellite ground station (formallySatellite ground station 12,but more commonly known by its nickname:It Grutte Ear(The Big Ear).) nearBurum.The NSO interception station was created in the south-eastern corner of the existing Stratos satellite station property. Two large 18m diameter satellite dishes, nine smaller 11m diameter satellite dishes, and four so-calledwaffle-ironswhich are 4 meters in diameter were added for Sigint purposes.[8]
Eibergen
[edit]A second JSCU intercept station is located on the military baseKamp HolterhoekinEibergenin theAchterhoekregion. Since 1967 the 898th signal battalion, stationed atEibergen,has been intercepting radio traffic from the formerEastern Bloccountries. In 1998 the battalion merged with the 1st Air Force signal battalion fromAlphen,and part of the Naval Intelligence Service (the Technisch Informatie Verwerkingscentrum) fromEemnes,and became the newOperationeel Verbindings-Inlichtingen Centrum(Operational Signal-Intelligence Centre, OVIC), atEibergen.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^NRC Handelsblad, NSA infected 50,000 computer networks with malicious software;en papieren editie van 23 November 2013, p. 12.
- ^Defensie.nl, Kamerbrief en convenant Joint Sigint Cyber Unit (JSCU)Archived2014-11-08 at theWayback Machine,3 juli 2014
- ^ab"De oren van Nederland heten NSO".telegraaf.nl.February 5, 2014.
- ^"Kamerbrief Convenant Joint Sigint Cyber Unit (JSCU)"(PDF).[permanent dead link]
- ^Jaarverslag MIVD 2012Archived2014-03-02 at theWayback Machine,p. 19
- ^"Project Symbolon completed: the Dutch Joint SIGINT Cyber Unit (JSCU) is born – Matthijs R. Koot's notebook".blog.cyberwar.nl.25 September 2013.
- ^"AIVD - Joint Sigint Cyber Unit AIVD en MIVD van start".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-02-21.
- ^"N O O R D E R B R E E D T E".November 7, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2007.
- ^"898 verbindingsbataljon en haar voorgangers".Archived fromthe originalon May 21, 2010.
External links
[edit]- Samenwerking inlichtingendiensten,ministerie van Defensie