In ICDS’ latest cybersecurity report, “Improving Cyber Security: NATO and the EU”, Piret Pernik examines the future for cyber cooperation between the two largest collective organizations acting in security and defence issues in Europe – the EU and NATO. The author chronicles the oft delayed development of cyber capabilities of both groups. In doing so, Pernik highlights the core distinctions between them.
In ICDS’ latest cybersecurity report, “Improving Cyber Security: NATO and the EU”, Piret Pernik examines the future for cyber cooperation between the two largest collective organizations acting in security and defence issues in Europe – the EU and NATO. The author chronicles the oft delayed development of cyber capabilities of both groups. In doing so, Pernik highlights the core distinctions between them.
The EU facilitates member states’ ability to cooperate and exchange information but provides little value independent of its members. It is focused on the protection of critical infrastructure, law enforcement, and issues of cyber diplomacy such as internet freedom, governance, and online privacy. NATO on the other hand, takes its mission of collective security well into the cyber realm. It has focused on high-level national security issues and has created many bureaucratic offshoots that address increasing threats of cyber attack. In 2002, NATO created the Computer Incident Response Capability group, and later in 2008 created the Cooperative Cyber Defence Center of Excellence here in Tallinn.
Pernik argues that all members will benefit increased cooperation between these two organizations. Information sharing, building infrastructure, and establishing common doctrine are all examples of methods that would utilize each organizations strengths while taking a multifaceted approach towards improving cyber security across Europe.
For a more in depth look at how these two groups operate, as well as ideas for future collaboration please see the full report here: Improving Cyber Security: NATO and the EU.