Strengthen Our Cybersecurity Posture
Implement a proactive, forward-defense approach to cybersecurity to protect our citizens and critical infrastructure from malicious actors.
Europe must adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity capabilities in order to keep its citizens and critical infrastructure safe from malicious actors. To this end, there is an urgent need for an updated legal framework, improved infrastructure, greater awareness, and a forward defense stance.
A Legal Framework for Cybersecurity
In order for Europe to properly defend itself against cyber threats, it must first ensure that the legal framework is in place to enable this endeavor. Specifically, there must be an adequate framework for data protection, data security, and incident response. Laws must be put in place that criminalize malicious cyber activities and provide effective deterrence against cyber crime from foreign threat actors.
Improved Infrastructure
In order to improve its cybersecurity capabilities, Europe must also invest in its infrastructure. This means securing both physical infrastructure, such as telecommunications networks, and digital infrastructure, such as cloud-based services and digital networks. Furthermore, organizations must invest in robust cyber defense products and services to protect their networks and data.
Education and Awareness
A crucial component of any cyber security strategy is education and awareness. Citizens must be educated on the risks of cyber security and how to protect themselves, while organizations must be aware of the risks posed by malicious actors. Europe should promote initiatives that provide cyber security training to the public, and provide resources to organizations on best practices for cyber security. Additionally, Europe should encourage the adoption of cyber security certifications and certifications of compliance to maximize cyber security across its jurisdiction.
Command and Control
In order to effectively respond to threats, Europe must also put in place a robust command and control structure. This should include a centralized structure for managing cyber security incidents, with teams tasked with responding to incidents, sharing information with relevant stakeholders, and providing advice and support. Additionally, the structure should have the ability to coordinate the response to incidents across multiple jurisdictions and organizations.
Adopting a Forward Defense Stance
The most effective way for Europe to protect itself from cyber threats is to adopt a forward defense stance. This means that Europe should be able to identify and stop threats at their source. To do this, Europe should develop and implement sophisticated detection and response systems capable of identifying malicious activity in real time, and of providing a rapid response when needed. Additionally, Europe should promote intelligence sharing among its member states and the wider international community, in order to identify and contain malicious actors before they can launch an attack.
Policy Proposals
- Update existing legal frameworks to ensure adequate data protection, data security, and incident response.
- Invest in physical and digital infrastructure to ensure effective and secure communication and authentication methods.
- Promote initiatives that provide cyber security training to the public and resources to organizations on best practices.
- Encourage the adoption of cyber security certifications and certifications of compliance.
- Establish a centralized command and control structure for managing cyber security incidents.
- Develop and implement sophisticated detection and response systems capable of identifying malicious activity in real time and of providing a rapid response when needed.
- Promote intelligence sharing among member states and the wider international community.
The security of Europe’s citizens and critical infrastructure depend on its ability to defend against cyber threats. It is essential that Europe take these steps now in order to protect its citizens and critical infrastructure from the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
Politicians and decision makers must take strong and decisive action to put in place the legal framework, infrastructure, and procedures necessary to protect against cyber threats.