EU cybersecurity strategy

2023: Europe not ready for quantum apocalypse: new report reveals all EU weaknesses in cybersecurity

On July 17, 2023, a list of recommendations for the European Union to ensure the protection of member states from a new type of cyber attack using quantum computing was released.

The document is called " cyber security A Europe quantum cybersecurity agenda for Europe." Its author is Andrea G. Rodríguez, a leading digital policy analyst at the Center for European Policy. It is noted that quantum computing technologies are developing rapidly, which brings the so-called "Day Q" closer - the moment when quantum computers can hack existing cryptographic algorithms. This will jeopardize the entire global information security industry.

The list of recommendations for the European Union to ensure the protection of member states from cyber attacks of a new type has been released

Problems that could create quantum systems for the field of information protection were largely not discussed at the EU policy level, Rodriguez's report said. And therefore, there is simply no strategy for combating such threats. Cybersecurity, meanwhile, plays an important role in Europe's economic stability. The paper sets out key recommendations to ensure the EU is protected from quantum attacks:

• Development of EU coordinated action plan for quantum transition;
• Creation of a specialized expert group within the framework of the Agency for Network and Information Security of the European Union (ENISA) with national experts to exchange experience;
• Prioritizing the transition to post-quantum encryption and providing cryptographic flexibility to respond to emerging threats;
• Ensuring political coordination between the European Commission, EU member states, national security agencies and ENISA to identify technological priorities and use options for quantum-safe technologies;
• Promoting technical coordination at EU level to address gaps in research on quantum-safe technologies;
• Determine whether sandboxes can be used to accelerate the development of applications based on quantum information technologies.^[1]

2021: Creation of a single group in the EU to combat hackers

At the end of June 2021, the European Commission created a new unified group to combat hackers as part of the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, so that all member states are ready for collective work and active exchange of information. Read more here.

2020: European Commission unveils EU cyber strategy

In mid-December 2020, the European Commission presented a new EU Cybersecurity Strategy, which is designed to strengthen Europe's collective resilience to cyber threats and ensure that all citizens and enterprises can fully use reliable and trustworthy services and digital tools. The strategy is designed to lay new principles for the development of the cybersecurity sector for the next decade.

The strategy will also allow the EU to establish international cybersecurity norms and standards and strengthen cooperation with partners around the world to promote open, stable and secure cyberspace. The European Commission also made proposals to improve the cybersecurity of critical physical facilities and networks, including the protection of infrastructures that can be subjected to cyber attacks, such as transport, energy, health power, the financial system and many other sectors. Thus, the Strategy is aimed at eliminating current and future online and offline risks, from cyber attacks to cybercrime or natural disasters.

The European Commission has developed an EU cyber strategy

The European Commission also proposed to create an EU cybersecurity operational department to coordinate the actions of all community countries, deploy a network of operational centers in the EU using AI to early detect and counter cyber attacks, and develop new integrated principles for protecting the entire infrastructure of the EU countries. First of all, the new cybersecurity strategy is aimed at protecting the global and open Internet, but at the same time offers guarantees not only to ensure security, but also to protect European values ​ ​ and the fundamental rights of everyone through regulatory, investment and political initiatives.^[2]

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