THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
Cyber resilience must be at the top of the EU’s political agenda
by Prof Dr Angelika Niebler MEP, Rapporteur for the Cybersecurity Act in the European Parliament, Brussels/Strasbourg
C
ybersecurity issues are becoming a day-to-day struggle for businesses and consumers. The high number of recent cyber-attacks shows us how vulnerable our data and privacy really are. 88% of daily internet users fear that they will become victims of cyber-attacks and 77% are concerned about the use of their personal information on the internet.
Photo: European Parliament
How MEPs work to boost Europe’s cybersecurity
second half of 2018 – 19 of which were against the electricity grid. However, the actual number might be much higher as it is assumed that not all mid-sized infrastructure attacks are reported.
Shaping a European cybersecurity strategy
These developments are alarming. Therefore, years ago, the European Union passed a cybersecurity strategy on how to best prevent and respond to cyber-attacks. The NIS Directive on critical infrastructure (Directive on Network and Information Systems Security) was the first piece of EU-wide legislation to Alarming developments provide legal measures to boost the overall level of cyberseIn past years, many people still thought of cyber-attacks as curity in the EU. It was adopted in July 2016 and became fully science fiction and a story that makes a good Hollywood binding last year. As it stands, the NIS Directive is going to be movie. However, in recent years, cases of cyber-attacks have implemented in all EU Member States. increased, such as “WannaCry” in 2017 that infected 300,000 The next important milestone in the EU-wide cybersecurity computers in 150 countries, demanding that users hand over strategy was the adoption of the Cybersecurity Act last year. As money in exchange for codes to de-encrypt files. 80% of Eurorapporteur of the Cybersecurity Act in the European Parliament, pean companies have already I strongly believe that cyberbeen the victim of at least one security is not only a national cybersecurity incident. While in Prof Dr Angelika Niebler MEP issue, but it also needs a Euthe past, hacking efforts have is a Member of the European Parliament since 1999. She ropean answer. Therefore, the been more about spying and is a Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and European Parliament supported stealing information, attacks Energy and a Substitute Member of the Committee on and strengthened the Commisare now more aimed towards Legal Affairs. Since November 2018, Professor Niebler sion’s proposal for a strong sabotaging our critical infrahas been President of the Economic Advisory Committee cybersecurity unit at an EU level structure such as electricity Bavaria, and she has been the Party Vice-Chair of the CSU and a European framework and communication networks. since 2015. She was appointed Honorary Professor at the for cybersecurity certification. In Germany, the national Faculty of Business Management at the Munich University Europe needs a cyberspace cybersecurity authority, BSI, of Applied Sciences in 2016. that is safe and secure, and the recorded 157 attacks in the Cybersecurity Act largely con-
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