Discussions about integration in the defence and security community are common and increasingly urgent. However, a recurring issue is the confusion between communications interoperability and data interoperability. While the two are related, they are fundamentally different concepts that require different approaches and solutions.

Take, for instance, a recent request for information (RFI) concerning a new communications requirement. It included the following statements:

• “Interoperable with UK Land/Air and select NATO partners incorporating NATO standards, rules and procedures.”

• “The solution should be designed with open standards to aid integration and enable expeditious change in a rapidly changing technological space.”

On the surface, these statements appear to address communications concerns. However, they are in fact about data. And confusing the two risks oversimplifying a complex and evolving challenge.

Communications interoperability: a solved problem?

Communications interoperability is about making different systems able to exchange signals. This can involve aligning frequencies, agreeing on waveforms, or using intermediary hardware. Many of these issues have been addressed for decades since the days of Strowger switches in the 19th century. Whether it's by physical patch panels or software-defined radios, enabling different platforms to “talk” to each other has long been achievable.

In practical terms, if two organisations need to communicate over the radio, they must agree on a shared frequency and modulation scheme. It’s technical, but it's a known challenge with well-established solutions.

Data interoperability: where the real complexity lies

Data interoperability is a much deeper and more dynamic problem. It goes beyond enabling systems to “talk”, it’s about ensuring that they “understand” each other. For two systems to exchange information usefully, the data must be in a format that the receiving system can interpret and act upon.

This is why we talk about open standards. These allow data to be structured in predictable, well-documented ways. Without them, integration becomes brittle and error-prone. Crucially, data should be bearer agnostic—it shouldn't matter how it’s transported, whether by fibre, radio, or cloud infrastructure.

In earlier times, a bearer might have been as simple as a carrier pigeon. Today, a bearer might be a 5G signal, a secure satellite uplink, or a virtualised infrastructure service. The point is that the bearer transmits, but the data is what carries meaning.

Data-centric security and the cloud

One modern approach to managing data interoperability is through data-centric security. This means protecting the data itself, encrypting it so that only authorised recipients can access it, rather than securing the whole network. This is a fundamental shift, particularly in a world where we treat “the cloud” as a utility, even though it is just a network of bearers.

Talking about “red” and “black” networks, terms used to separate classified and unclassified traffic, can be misleading in this context. We should be thinking about how the data is handled, rather than focusing solely on the route it takes.

Moving beyond point-to-point thinking

Looking back, UK MOD documentation from 2004 on Network Enabled Capability envisioned connecting a limited number of trusted systems through direct, point-to-point links. At the time, this made sense. The environment was more static, and the threat landscape was more predictable.

But we now live in a different world. The Internet of Things, smartphones, and cloud-native technologies means that anyone, anywhere, can develop an app in any language and deploy it to billions of devices. These apps can seamlessly pull together data from multiple sources, integrate it, and present useful intelligence to the user.

In this environment, integration is not a matter of agreed communications standards, it's about how data is structured, shared and secured.

Conclusion: shifting the focus

To meet modern defence and security needs, we must shift our thinking. Communications interoperability is no longer the bottleneck. Instead, the greater challenge, and opportunity lies in achieving true data interoperability. This requires:

• Embracing any standard

• Designing systems that can adapt to unknown future partners

• Securing data at the level of the information, not the bearer

• Recognising that integration is about understanding, not just connecting

By focusing on data, we can build more flexible, resilient and future-ready capabilities that meet the demands of a fast-moving operational environment.

How Nexor can help

At Nexor, we understand that achieving true interoperability goes beyond just connecting systems; it’s about making data usable, secure and trusted across environments. Our solutions are designed with a data-first mindset, helping defence, government and critical infrastructure organisations:

• Build secure, standards-based information exchange platforms

• Implement data-centric security to protect information across domains

• Enable seamless integration between legacy systems and modern technologies

If you're looking to move beyond point-to-point thinking and build systems designed for the future of secure, data-driven operations, get in touch with Nexor today. We’d love to explore how we can support your mission.