After 9/11, the world has seen a dramatic change in the nature of threat, moving from a static, clearly identified possible menace to an asymmetric one where rules are unclear and unpredictable. Example of such asymmetric threats include: various terrorist acts, such as naval sea mines, improvised explosive devices (C-IED), weapons of mass destruction (WMD), suicide attacks, as well as illegal migration, narco-traffic, etc., which can dramatically and quickly capture international political attention, providing more and more sensitive challenges to master. It is therefore necessary to establish balanced and feasible defence measures in order to adequately respond to threats in the global requirement for security. This paper describes various common NATO initiatives launched to jointly reduce vulnerability and enhance security in ports, including joint policy as well as new technology development.