From: European Network and Information Security Agency

A high-level event organised by Europe’s cyber security agency, ENISA, recognised closer cyber cooperation and mutual support as key factors for boosting cyber security for Europe’s citizens, governments and businesses.

The meeting, held today (27th November) in Brussels, was led by ENISA’s Executive Director, Professor Udo Helmbrecht, and brought together key figures from the European Parliament, European Commission and the computer industry.

Participants included Ms Amelia Andersdotter, MEP and Mr Anthony Whelan, representing the Commission as Head of Cabinet for Vice President and Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Mrs Neelie Kroes. They were joined by Mr Paul Timmers, Director at DG Connect. Industry representatives were Mr Paul Nicholas, Senior Director at Microsoft, and Mr Tom Koehler, CEO at Cassidian Cybersecurity, Germany.

ENISA is currently in the process of having its working remit renewed and revised, with a new Regulation being finalised by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. The new Regulation will enable ENISA to better support Europe’s cyber security needs.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: “The key to strong cyber security is sharing responsibility. That is the ‘name of the game’ for this event and for ENISA, and it’s a more important challenge than ever as the role of the internet in our economy and society continues to grow rapidly.”

Professor Helmbrecht said: “Europe’s information society depends on secure technology, well-built laws and policies and security-aware citizens. Our event today underlined that there is a strong need for closer cyber cooperation to build an even stronger level of European cyber security, for our citizens and Europe’s digital economy.”

At the conference, ENISA’s recent successes in building cooperation between different cyber communities were recognised. Examples include:

  • Supporting      the set-up of new national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in      Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and Romania
  • Providing      support for CERTS
  • Close      cooperation with the Commission, Member States & now private sector on      cyber security exercises
  • Conducting      the first Europe-wide cyber security exercise with the private sector      involved – Cyber Europe 2012[1]
  • Facilitating      the first Annual Privacy Forum to be held, with the close support of the      Cyprus EU Presidency.
  • ENISA’s      ground-breaking role in producing the first ever comprehensive reports on      cyber security breaches in Europe (under Article 13a of the EU telecoms      directive)

Other areas addressed included the need for common standards in cyber security, to better enable Europe’s IT industry to compete more effectively globally. Currently other markets, notably the United States, are ahead of Europe in having common recognised standards.

Anthony Whelan provided the European Commission perspective, looking at the EU’s forthcoming Cyber Security Strategy, and also gave an update on the progress of the new ENISA Regulation.

For agenda of the event.

For background: New ENISA regulation proposal and EP status

[1] The exercise was Europe’s largest to date, with 400 participants across Europe, exposed to 1000 massive simulated cyber incidents, in an unprecedented scale of exercise.