Can Europe Deal With Cyberattacks?

A selection of experts answer a new question from Judy Dempsey on the foreign and security policy challenges shaping Europe’s role in the world.

Sorin Ducaru | Assistant secretary general for emerging security challenges at NATO

Europe has no choice but to rise to the challenge of dealing with a fast-evolving cyberthreat landscape. NATO has seen an increase in frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks in the last year. And the alliance is stepping up its game on cyberdefense. Over 200 experts help protect NATO’s networks around the clock. NATO Cyber Rapid Reaction Teams are on standby to counter attacks against NATO networks, or to assist allies, on request. The organization has enhanced information sharing, including with partners such as the EU and through a malware information sharing platform.

Recognizing that resilient national cyberdefenses are key to collective defense, NATO allies adopted a cyberdefense pledge at their 2016 summit in Warsaw to prioritize investment in strengthening national cyberdefenses. This is consistent with the fundamental responsibility of allies to defend their networks; NATO supports them through the sharing of information, analysis, intelligence, and technical expertise and by promoting benchmark requirements for national capability development and relevant skills. The alliance is also intensifying cooperation with trusted partners, including the EU, industry, and academia. NATO and the EU are already doing a lot together and, in the cyberdomain, are working on much more.