Why the review of the NIS directive is so important for cybersecurity in Europe and on the global level, and what this has to do with cyber-immunity

Jochen Michels, Head of Public Affairs, Europe, Kaspersky

Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union. This is the somewhat voluminous official title of the EU legislation commonly known as the NIS directive. However, it is also a very eloquent title. For it leaves no doubt as to the purpose of the legislation. It aims to create a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union.

We should always keep this ambition in mind when revising the Directive. In addition, it will lead the discussion at the upcoming webcast on EU cybersecurity policy, which Kaspersky will host on September 9, 11:00 – 12:15 am Brussels time. This webcast, with the title ‘Review of the NIS Directive – from cybersecurity to cyber-immunity”? is the second in a series of high-level online events for political, administrative, business and academic leaders from the EU and the member states.

No doubt about it: since its adoption in 2016, the NIS Directive has supported and further enhanced the development of cybersecurity capabilities within EU Member States. The progress made relates to all three areas of the Directive: (i) national capabilities; (ii) cross-border collaboration; and (iii) national supervision of critical sectors. The overall objectives of this webcast will be:

• To inform about the relevance of the review of the NIS directive to increase cybersecurity in Europe (and on a global level)
• To discuss requirements, recommendations and objectives for the revisions
• To discuss the relevance of cybersecurity/cyber-immunity as a basis for successful digitization

Two 10-minute keynote speeches by Mr Evangelos Ouzounis, Head of Secure Infrastructure and Services at ENISA and Kaspersky CEO Eugene Kaspersky at the beginning of the webcast are intended to lay the foundation for the panel discussion. The central idea of the event as a whole is the thesis that adequate cybersecurity is a basic prerequisite for a successful digital transformation in Europe.

In addition to the keynote speakers, the following top-class speakers from different stakeholder groups and regions form the panel:

Susanne DEHMEL, Member of the Executive Board, Legal & Security at Bitkom, Germany’s digital association

Corrado GIUSTOZZI, Member of CERT-AGID Italy, Senior Cyber Security Expert, lecturer at the University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’

The main question of the panel discussion will be how a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union can be established. The review of the NIS Directive is part of the key policy objective set by President Ursula von der Leyen to make “Europe fit for the digital age”. The rapid digitization of all areas of society and economy has expanded the threat landscape. New challenges require adaptive and innovative responses from all stakeholder groups. The webcast aims to provide information, impulses and new ideas from different perspectives and to contribute to the discussion of this topic and to further revision of the NIS Directive.

The first webcast took place on June 9 and was a great success with more than 100 senior-level participants from EU- and member state levels. Speakers were, e.g., German MEP Axel Voss; Jakub Boratyński (Acting Director of Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity (Directorate H) at the European Commission; Eric Bothorel, Member of the French National Assembly; and Eugene Kaspersky. To give you a better impression, please have a look at the report about that event and the recording of the webcast: https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/discussing-european-cybersecurity-challenges/35929/

To register for the event, please sign up via the online form. After your registration, you will receive a participation link and all required details to join the webinar.