An uncertain future for cybersecurity in Europe

Cyber security awareness is quite low in Italy, and the situation is not much different in the rest of Europe. A recent Eurobarometer survey revealed a dramatic backwardness in this strategic sector at continental level. The lack of specific skills, the growing need for cybersecurity experts and the need for trained personnel within companies highlight a bleak scenario. The European Commission highlighted how these findings are perfectly aligned with a report from ENISA, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, which highlights a disturbing increase in cyber attacks, compromising crucial sectors such as information, logistics, transport and energy supply.

Italian safety initiatives

The Eurobarometer survey comes at a time when the Commission is stepping up its awareness-raising efforts. Italy is demonstrating a significant commitment: in Rome, the community of G7 cyber agencies was recently born, under the presidency of Bruno Frattasi, director of the National Agency for Cyber Security. This working group addresses the challenge of a rapidly evolving subject, demonstrating that adapting quickly to new threats is essential. The establishment of this community represents an attempt to join international forces in combating growing cybersecurity threats.

Towards greater resilience

The published survey is part of a broader initiative of the Academy for Cyber Security Skills, created a year ago to strengthen synergies between public and private initiatives at European and national level. The goal is to respond to the needs of the cybersecurity market and make it more resilient. Resilience, in this context, represents a company's ability to resist cyber attacks or, if affected, to quickly restore operations while minimizing the impact on operations. This capability has become a top priority for organizations that want to maintain business continuity in an increasingly digitalized world.

Investments for the future

The European Commission has decided to allocate €10 million this year to support IT skills training projects for SMEs, start-ups and the public sector. As of 2021, total investments in this field, by Member States and the private sector, have reached around €600 million, and new funding opportunities will be available from autumn 2024. These investments not only seek to fill a significant gap compared to countries such as the United States, China, Iran and North Korea, but they also intend to address the needs of an increasingly interconnected world. Now, the challenge will be to see when the fruits of these joint efforts will begin to be reaped.