In October 2013, the first fully-fledged European Cyber Security Month (ECSM) will take place all over Europe. The campaign is under intensive planning with more than 40 partners and, currently, stakeholders in 25 countries across Europe participating. The EU’s ‘cyber security’ agency ENISA is, together with the European Commission Vice President and Commissioner, Neelie Kroes and the Commission Directorate General DG CONNECT, supporting this first full scale European Cyber Security Month, with more than 50 activities.

But what is the ECSM?

The European Cyber Security Month is an EU campaign that takes place in October. Its purpose is

-to promote cyber security among citizens,

-to change their perception of cyber-threats, and

-to provide up-to-date security information, through education and sharing good practices.

Activities all over Europe

ECSM activities will take place in these 25 countries (22 EU Member States and 3 partner countries): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

More than 40 partners from both public and private bodies are active in the campaign, among them Europol, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission’s Europe Direct network, as well as professional information and communication (ICT) associations (e.g. ISACA and the Information Systems Security Association, ISSA -) and industry representatives.

The activities will include video, radio and TV talk shows and programmes, lectures, expert workshops, conferences, online games, and fairs in all ECSM countries. For example, in Austria a record number of activities is being organised: (15); in Ireland a Cyber Psychology Research Centre will be launched.

ENISA’s Executive Director, Professor Udo Helmbrecht commented: “ENISA is a broker of cyber security knowledge. The European Cyber Security Month campaign makes it possible to share best practices, and to increase the results of the security communities’ work. It’s about your security, and in your best interest; online security requires your active participation”.

He added; “In a time when cyber security is of increasing importance for society and the economy, the challenge is to bring the skills of citizens and SMEs up to speed, to improve the trust in public and private IT services, used in everyday lives”.

For further information: Website http://cybersecuritymonth.eu/ Twitter @enisa_eu  and @CyberSecMonth #OctoberNIS #CyberSecMonth

For interviews; Graeme Cooper, Head of Public Affairs Unit, graeme.cooper@enisa.europa.eu, mobile: +30 6951 782 268, or Daria Catalui, ECSM point of contact stakeholderrelations@enisa.europa.eu

Background:

• The European Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe, action point 32: specifically identifies a European Cyber Security Month.
• "An Open, Safe and Secure Cyberspace" EU Cyber Security Strategy  page 8 http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/dae/document.cfm?doc_id=1667

ENISA 2012 report:

ENISA