Cybersecurity

We carry out a lot of our lives online. Since the pandemic, this shift to the digital world has become even more apparent. We have relied on the Internet to keep in touch with loved ones, buy new products, and work from home.

However, as well as new opportunities, the move to a more digital world has also brought new threats in the form of cyberattacks. Cyberattacks are used to steal data, spy on users, disable or manipulate computers and more. They not only target personal computers, but also entire networks, and can be carried out by individual hackers, groups of hackers or even countries.

If the move to digital is to be successful, European citizens and businesses must be able to benefit from new technologies without compromising their cybersecurity. The EU’s Cybersecurity Strategy aims to strengthen our collective cybersecurity and our response to cyberattacks. It will build a stable and secure global Internet where the rule of law, human rights and democratic values are protected.

The strategy has three areas of action:

1. resilience, technical sovereignty and leadership;
2. operational capacity to prevent, deter and respond;
3. cooperation to advance global and open cyberspace.

More on the EU Cybersecurity Strategy

The EU is working to improve cybersecurity skills and promote effective action to the public, so we can all help to keep the digital world safe. Cybersecurity is also a key area in the Digital Europe programme. The programme aims to strengthen cybersecurity coordination between EU countries, and to fund the resilience of EU countries to cyberattacks.

On 10 November, the Commission and the High Representative presented a Joint Communication on the new EU Policy for Cyber Defence. The main aim of the policy is to enhance cooperation and investments in cyber defence and provide better protection against an increase in cyberattacks. For now, both parties will keep track on the progress of the policy through an annual report, with Member States encouraged to contribute. An implementation plan could be set up in cooperation with Member States.