Participation of the PABSEC International Secretariat in the 9th Annual European Cybersecurity Conference, Brussels, 24 March 2022

The 9th Annual European Cybersecurity Conference was co-organised by Forum Europe and the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), in Brussels in hybrid format on 24 March 2022. The gathering was attended by leading policy-makers, industry players, high-level cyber security and defence experts. It explored Europe’s response to cyber security issues in a dynamically evolving global risk landscape and what the next steps for all actors of the ecosystem should be to create a safe and secure environment allowing Europe to leverage the tremendous socio-economic benefits offered by digital technologies.

Mr. Miltiadis Makrygiannis, PABSEC Deputy Secretary General attended the event online.

The conference included four sessions and a High-Level discussion titled “Looking ahead: Cyber security and future technologies”.

The first session under the title “A modernised framework to secure the digital and interconnected European economy” explored the status of discussions around the measures recently announced, identify areas where more clarity or focus needs to be given and discussed the importance of promoting a harmonised and consistent approach across the EU to truly boost the security and resilience of digital networks, products as well as of essential and important entities.

The second session under the title “A resilient, complex and dynamic digital ecosystem: 5G Security and the Internet of Secure Things” included a discussion over the latest thinking around the security and resilience of 5G networks and systems (with 6G already on the horizon) and of connected devices, notably around considerations pertaining to supply chain security and certification initiatives under the Cyber Security Act.

The third session titled “An intelligence-led approach to cybersecurity: Setting up an EU-wide network of AI-enabled Security Operations Centres” focused on the European Commission’s proposal to build a network of Security Operations Centres (SOCs) across the EU that would leverage Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to detect early signs of impending cyber-attacks and launch early preventative actions.

Finally, the fourth session titled “Enhancing European and international cooperation to respond to cyber threats and promote a global, stable and open cyberspace” focused on cooperation and multilateral approach as crucial elements to mitigate cybersecurity threats and ensure the stability of the digital world.