EU Agency ENISA Looks at a European Cyber Security Month

EU Agency ENISA Looks at a European Cyber Security Month

BRUSSELS and HERAKLION, Greece, December 15, 2011/PRNewswire/ --

    Report examines 'jump-start' for 'European Security Month'

    The European Network and Information Security Agency ENISA today published a new,
detailed feasibility study
[http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/ar/deliverables/2011/europeansecuritymonth ] of a European
security month. A recommendation of the study is that a strong commitment by the EU Member
States would be useful to roll-out a successful European cyber security month.

    In the report
[http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/ar/deliverables/2011/europeansecuritymonth ], ENISA looks
at the benefits of a "European Security Month". The study takes a close look at 127 cyber
security events organised at national level across Europe and how to engage EU Member
States. The aim is to increase awareness among EU citizens of risks to personal, corporate
and national security and to demonstrate practical steps to protect sensitive information.

    Around 50% of the EU member states already run their own, national security days or,
usually, weeks. But a pan-European campaign would coordinate the approach and the
messages, as well as broaden their scope, by including public and private security
industry actors. The security month would draw on the worldwide experiences to create a
strong brand, and to deliver clear, powerful messages through a wide range of channels,
including websites, advertising, media coverage, videos, TV and radio broadcasts. The
report does not however suggest a fixed month across Europe, as the campaigns currently
held by Member States span various months identified to mainly occur in Q3/Q4. The report
does however suggest that synchronising the month with the US cyber security month (in
October) could to "jump start" the process. The report includes a roadmap and strategy to
bring together national groups and decision makers.

    "With threats at home and work through fixed and mobile computing devices, higher
awareness levels can really reduce the number of cyber security breaches," said Professor
Udo Helmbrecht, Executive Director of ENISA
[http://www.enisa.europa.eu/about-enisa/structure-organization/executive-director ]. "While
this report recognises the challenges to deliver an EU-wide campaign, notably to make the
Month fun and exciting, a successful 'European Security Month' will reduce the number of
incidents, increase consumer's confidence and help protect children and adults using
Internet."

    Background: The EU's Digital Agenda for Europe
[http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/fiche-dae.cfm?action_id0&pillar_idE&action¬tion%2032%3A%20Strengthen%20the%20fight%20against%20cybercrime%20at%20international%20level ]
stipulates that the EU should undertake a European security month in 2012.
This would increase knowledge of Network and Information Security (NIS) issues, modify
perceptions of threats, and provide updated security information through education, good
practices and competitions.

    For full report
[http://www.enisa.europa.eu/act/ar/deliverables/2011/europeansecuritymonth ]

    Background Digital Agenda, action point 32, Strengthen the fight against cybercrime at
international level
[http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/fiche-dae.cfm?action_id0 ]

    EU Working Group on cybersecurity and cybercrime
[http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/246 ]

Source: ENISA - European Network and Information Security Agency

For interviews, or further details: Ulf Bergstrom, Spokesman, ENISA, press@enisa.europa.eu, Mobile: +30-6948-460-143, or Isabella Santa, Expert, ENISA, isabella.santa@enisa.europa.eu