To enhance cyber resilience, the EU is building a certification framework for information and communication technology (ICT) products, services and processes. On 8 June 2018, the Council agreed a Proposal (known as the Cybersecurity Act) to prepare for negotiations with the European Parliament to finalise the text.

One of the effects of the Proposal is that it will upgrade the current European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) into a more stable EU agency for cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity certification

The Proposal introduces a tool to create a more comprehensive regulatory framework for specific ICT processes, products and services designed to help ensure compliance with specified cybersecurity requirements.

Certificates issued under the scheme will be recognised, legally, across the EU. This will therefore have the dual effect of building trust in users – given the technology certification will mean the technology has received the European-security stamp – and enabling businesses to carry out their business cross-border. The resilience behind the technology in relation to accidental or malicious data loss or alteration will be certified.

This certification scheme addresses the barriers in the EU where Member States have implemented different standards to one another, for example Member States have issued regulations which improve country-specific requirements around security.

The details of this certification scheme and its requirements will, in particular, be important to network and data service operators, including cloud computing service providers.

The certification will be optional unless it is specified as a legal requirement under an EU law or Member State law.Continue Reading EU to create a cybersecurity certification framework