The discussion about security in cyberspace must also take place at European level
Since December 3, 2021, the EU has adopted a common line on cybersecurity in Europe. This news is by no means unexpected, but continues a development that began with a decision by the competence center on cybersecurity in April 2021.
The agreed objective includes combating attacks from the network more effectively as well as preventing them. The joint approach is intended to prevent states that do not voluntarily want to take adequate measures from becoming an obstacle for the entire European economy.
With regard to the decision, it is appropriate to ask why the decisions were made so urgent. The answer to this question can be answered on several levels. The first possible answer includes the economic aspect. Every year in Germany alone, the damage caused by cyber criminals amounts to more than 220 billion euros. This not only affects private individuals whose addresses or payment details fall into the wrong hands.
The damage to companies that have become victims of a cyber attack can be felt both as an economic loss and a loss of image. If customers are informed that their data has not been handled securely, this message will have a direct impact on economic development over the next few years.
Defining now as a period of time to act has also been done on the basis of statistics. According to their statement, 22 billion devices will be connected to the Internet by 2024. This number represents a great attraction for cyber criminals. The motivation to gain illegal access to this data will therefore increase rather than decrease. The common level of action is intended to create fewer areas for attack and to reduce the number of cybercrimes in Europe.
One of the first points of contact for the EU member states is the agency of the European Cybersecurity Agency. Based in Greece, the authority takes on a supporting role. Within the agency, the aim is not only to identify the latest threats promptly, but also to make this information available to European countries quickly. The authority’s tasks also extend to specific safety exercises that are intended to ensure that risk awareness does not decrease.
Awareness of threats is one of the greatest advantages in fighting cybercrime. Most of the top 10 countries with the highest safety standards are already in Europe. So that this ranking does not change in the following years, the EU’s digital security strategy is sending an important signal.
