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ENISA’s Laura Heuvinck Discusses Cybersecurity Index’s Implications for the EU
In the recently released EU Cybersecurity Index, European Union member states achieved an average score of 64.51 out of 100, indicating a moderate level of readiness in addressing cyber threats. During a discussion with ENISA spokesperson Laura Heuvinck, she highlighted the findings and outlined critical areas for enhancing the continent’s cybersecurity framework.
Notably, while the average scores suggest above-average performance in cybersecurity preparedness, significant inconsistencies remain across member states. According to the report from the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security, a minimum of 21 EU nations failed to meet the October 2024 deadline for executing the Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2), which mandates essential cybersecurity risk management and incident reporting obligations for organizations operating within vital sectors, including finance, energy, and healthcare. This situation raises concerns regarding EU-wide cybersecurity efficacy.
Heuvinck emphasized, “The legal stipulations within the NIS2 framework can be complex, which necessitates careful attention from member states when formulating their legal texts. The presence of legal ambiguities can potentially cause some delays in compliance.” This statement underscores the challenges many countries encounter while attempting to align with the directive.
In an interview with Information Security Media Group, Heuvinck elaborated on several key topics encompassing the EU Cybersecurity Index 2024 scores, the EU’s readiness to combat large-scale cyberattacks, the transformative effects of the NIS2 Directive on incident response mechanisms, and the hurdles faced by member states in meeting compliance requirements.
As the lead spokesperson for communications at ENISA, Heuvinck plays a pivotal role in transitioning the agency’s technical insights into public discussions and overarching EU strategies. This position is vital in ensuring that technological challenges and solutions are effectively communicated to policymakers and the general public, as Europe strives to bolster its cybersecurity landscape amid evolving threats.
