Cybersecurity and open data: Balancing transparency and protection
As the global push for open data accelerates, the intersection between
transparency and cybersecurity has become a critical focal point. With
October being the Cybersecurity Awareness Month
[https://cybersecuritymonth.eu/], we discover what role open data
plays to ensure a safe digital environment. Open data initiatives
offer opportunities for innovation and economic growth, but they also
raise concerns about the security of sensitive information. In a
digital-first world, ensuring both the free flow of non-personal data
and the safeguarding of critical systems is essential for building
trust. 

Governments and organisations worldwide are increasingly adopting open
data policies to foster collaboration and empower businesses with
valuable insights. However, as more datasets are made accessible, the
risk of cyberattacks on public infrastructure grows. Cybercriminals
are becoming more advanced at exploiting vulnerabilities in the data
ecosystem, leading to potential breaches that could compromise not
just individual users but entire sectors.  

In response, cybersecurity measures are evolving to meet the demands
of open data environments, such as the EU Cybersecurity Strategy
[https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/cybersecurity-strategy],
introduced in December 2020. The European Commission aims to build
resilience to cyber threats with this strategy, working closely with
the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)
[https://www.enisa.europa.eu/]. ENISA continuously researches
techniques to ensure digital safety by organising events like the
‘Threathunt 2030
[https://www.enisa.europa.eu/news/reporting-on-threathunt-2030-navigating-the-future-of-the-cybersecurity-threat-landscape]’
that addressed the future of cybersecurity threats. Furthermore,
through fostering cooperation between the public and private sectors,
cybersecurity experts can develop solutions that allow for the
benefits of open data without sacrificing security. 

Striking the right balance between openness and security is a delicate
process while the open data movement continues to grow. During
October, more events and news will be published on our platform, so
stay tuned. Register
[https://data.europa.eu/en/news-events/events/webinar-safeguarding-open-data-cybersecurity-essentials-and-skills-data]
for our upcoming cyber and digital skills webinar or read our
datastory on cyber disinformation
[https://data.europa.eu/en/publications/datastories/leveraging-open-data-tackle-cyber-disinformation]
to learn more about this topic.  

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[https://www.linkedin.com/company/publications-office-of-the-european-union/],
or subscribe to our newsletter [https://data.europa.eu/en/newsletter].

Publication Date/Time
2024-10-11T08:00:00+00:00
How the EU Cybersecurity Strategy ensures a safe digital future