View Network-Enabled Capability
Definition
Network-Enabled Capability (NEC) is a term that refers to the collective warfighting machine or system. The UK MoD define it as:
[The ability to ] provide the right information, to the right place, at the right time, to enable the right decision, to deliver the right outcome for Defence.
NEC. Understanding Network Enabled Capability
Despite the name it isn’t solely about networks as such although networks might be part of the solution that realises it. In this sense ‘network’ is probably better regarded in the same sense as ‘social network’ - not the bits but the connectedness. NEC isn’t a “thing” but more an attribute or measure of goodness for the collective system. It can be regarded as a result of good system design and will involve other properties such as interoperability although interoperability itself isn’t much use if you’re not creating or using the right information in the first place!
The UK MoD in JSP 777 identify 3 dimensions of NEC as
Information
Networks
People
although the sources and sinks of informations will either be people or systems such as platforms, command, communication and control systems rather than networks themselves as the conduits for the information.
In the US the terms used are probably Network Based Operations (NBO) or Network Centric Operations (NCO)
Relevance to Enterprise Architecture Frameworks
The defence-oriented frameworks DODAF, MODAF and NATO Architecture Framework are very much involved in the design of or the analysis of defence architecture to help improve the NEC of the allied defence architecture. The NATO Architecture Framework makes explicit reference to the contribution of the framework to NNEC (NATO NEC).
Acronym
NEC
References
NEC. Understanding Network enabled Capability. UK MoD. 2009. ISBN 978-1-905435-94-4. https://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F40663B6-F2D2-4058-A1EB-B843559BCCB5/0/1926_NEC.pdf
Network enabled Connectivity (NEC) publications. UK MoD. https://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/ScienceandTechnologyPublications/NEC/
JSP 777. Network Enabled Capability. Edition 1. https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121109143917/https://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/E1403E7F-96FA-4550-AE14-4C7FF610FE3E/0/nec_jsp777.pdf
Wikipedia. Network Centric Warfare. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-centric_warfare