Cyberwatch Finland Q2 magazine

Text : Aapo Cederberg, Managing Director and Founder of Cyberwatch Finland, Chairman of Cyber Security Committee of World UAV Federation (WUAVF)

Europe's Digital Independence - Threats and Opportunities!

Assessing the impact of the corona crisis is well under way.

It seems apparent, that the ramification will be even greater and more significant than the fight against the virus itself. The economic decline and its components are of great concern. One of these components is digital independence and sovereignty. This can be looked at from a European, national and citizens’ perspective. At all these levels, the corona crisis has led to a significant digital leap and experimentation in teleworking. At first glance, it seems that the transition process has been surprisingly successful, we have learned a lot and our digital competences has evolved tremendously. However, a more in-depth examination brings to light a lot of uncertainties and open-ended questions.

One of the most important questions is of trust

- have we relied too much on current teleworking systems without knowing their precise level of cyber security. The digital world is a great opportunity and simultaneously an unknown “minefield”. Raising questions of responsibility?

Whose role and responsibility is it to provide a reliable digital operating environment and the accompanying technologies, applications and training opportunities?

This is being discussed by European decision-makers, domestic politicians, and business leaders, as well as everyone else from their own point of view as teleworkers. Responsibility is certainly shared by all above. However, the division of labour and coordination is shrouded in mystery. The traditional management philosophy says that responsibility is indivisible - this is not the case in the digital environment. Everyone must do their part. The benefits are also being shared in a new way, and it is first and foremost about European and national competitive capability and economic recovery. At the individual level, it is about our own economies and the protection of our privacy.

Now is our last opportunity to improve Europe´ s digital security and self-sufficiency.

The question is, or at least should be, why Europe is so far behind - where is the European processor and everyday used applications. They do not exist, and due to globalisation, we are increasingly dependent on technology and software produced by the U.S. and Asian markets. There is a lot of discussion about the “security by design” and “zero trust” principles, which should guide the European cyber security industry towards closer cooperation. The EU's comprehensive revival package offers a golden opportunity to reduce these gaps in performance and demonstrate the leadership. It provides an opportunity to improve the digital independence and global competitiveness of all EU Member States.

Responsibility and Reliability

From the citizen's perspective it is difficult to comprehend the level of “zero trust” that each person possesses. We must rely on the digital services provided by the authorities and, above all, by the private sector.

Education, knowledge, and understanding of the operating environment is of unmeasurable value.

Since absolute 100 percent cyber security does not exist, we should all understand that no system can be fully trusted. Corporate responsibility as producers and employers of digital applications and services is the foundation for everything and the audit of digital products must be improved. Nationally, cyber security companies should be given the boundary conditions for operation and the ‘license to operate’.

Digital independence means change in the way we think and operate at all levels.