Multiple cybersecurity organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation on cybersecurity and defense, according to a press release from Europol.
The European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA), the European Defense Agency (EDA), Europol and the Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU Institutions, Agencies and Bodies (CERT-EU) have come together to establish a framework by which the organizations can collaborate with each other.
The signed MoU serves as a symbol of strength that exists among the different EU agencies and will focus on deepening their cooperative efforts in the areas of exchanging information, education and training; cyber-exercises; technical cooperation and strategic matters, as well as any additional areas deemed important.
Collaborative efforts among the groups will improve the ways in which the organizations use existing resources while hopefully reducing redundancy and leveraging their widespread expertise to enrich the services provided by the parties.
Driven in part by the 2014 Cyber Defence Policy Framework, which called for increased cooperation among civil-military parties, academic institutions and the private sector, the collaboration has been in the making since 2016. The newly developed cooperation of agencies also aligns with the Joint Communication on Cyber issued in 2017.
"ENISA welcomes the opportunity to work closely with our partner organisations. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and it is only by cooperating closely with all relevant stakeholders that the EU has a chance to address cybersecurity challenges," Dr. Udo Helmbrecht, executive director of ENISA, told Europol.
Steven Wilson, head of Europol’s European cybercrime centre (EC3), said, "This MoU illustrates how a safe and open cyberspace can only be achieved through enhanced cooperation and commitment. Through their participation, all parties involved demonstrate that they are willing to join forces and recognise that together we can provide the necessary response to cyber related threats. From EC3, we welcome the opportunity to enter a new era of working together with our MoU partners and are delighted to share our expertise and experience."