Cyber Europe is testing EU cyber readiness in the energy sector.

The 7th edition of Cyber Europe, one of the largest cybersecurity exercises in Europe, was organized by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) to test the resilience of the EU energy sector.

Cybersecurity has become a growing threat to the EU's critical infrastructure sectors due to the increasing number of cyberattacks in recent years. In 2023, over 200 reported cyber incidents targeted the energy sector, with more than half of them specifically directed at Europe.

The energy industry's significant role in the European economy makes it particularly susceptible to cyber threats and attacks.

EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, visited ENISA premises and witnessed the Cyber Europe Exercise firsthand. He emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, stating, "Cybersecurity threats in critical sectors can have an impact on the everyday life of citizens, as well as on businesses and public services throughout the EU. This type of exercise is essential to test our cybersecurity resilience with all key partners if we are to protect EU citizens."

According to the Network and Information Security (NIS) Investments in the EU report by ENISA, 32 percent of operators in the energy sector do not have a single critical Operation Technology (OT) process monitored by a Security Operations Center (SOC). Additionally, 52 percent of operators of essential services in the energy sector have both Operational Technology and Information Technology covered by a single SOC.

The event simulated a series of large-scale cyber incidents over two days. Participants worked together to hone their coordination and crisis management skills to ensure business continuity in the face of a crisis.

The pan-European exercise involved 30 national cybersecurity agencies, a number of EU agencies, bodies, and networks, and over 1000 experts in incident response and decision-making. ENISA, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, powered the exercise, making it one of the largest cyber exercises organized in Europe.