The European Union now considers European cybersecurity a fundamental pillar of its defence strategy. Member states increasingly recognize its importance for both national security and economic resilience. This evolving perspective stems from a rapidly changing security environment across the continent.
Threats are no longer limited to conventional military operations. Drone strikes, critical infrastructure sabotage, cyber espionage, and ransomware attacks now contribute to a complex security landscape. Modern economies and armed forces rely on shared digital infrastructure, blurring distinctions between military and civilian security targets.
The economic impact of cyber threats is substantial. The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) reported ransomware as the most impactful threat in 2025. Public administration was the most targeted sector, accounting for 32 percent of incidents. Furthermore, 73 percent of targeted organizations were essential entities under the EU’s NIS2 framework.
Significant financial consequences also loom large. In 2024, 21.5 percent of EU enterprises reported adverse ICT-related security incidents. Research suggests cyberattacks alone cost France, Germany, Italy, and Spain EUR 300 billion over the past five years. Therefore, recognizing cybersecurity as an economic resilience issue is paramount.
Physical and digital threats are increasingly intertwined. Russia’s war against Ukraine demonstrated how conventional operations involve cyberattacks, disinformation, and infrastructure sabotage. European governments must acknowledge that hostile states can weaken societies without traditional warfare.
Some nations grasped this reality much earlier. Estonia experienced a major wave of cyberattacks in 2007, targeting government, banking, and media services. This incident prompted NATO defence ministers to strengthen critical information system protection.
Nearly two decades later, the attack surface has expanded dramatically. Cloud computing, SaaS platforms, connected devices, remote work, mobile applications, and AI offer vast opportunities, but also countless entry points. This environment has fostered a new generation of European cybersecurity companies, like Lithuania’s Nord Security and Buck4Bug.
Artificial intelligence presents the next challenging phase of cyber threats. AI lowers attack costs while increasing sophistication, aiding in convincing phishing, automated social engineering, and synthetic media creation. ENISA warns that emerging AI models will increasingly support malicious operations.
Malware itself is also becoming more adaptable. Automated, self-modifying malicious code means defenders cannot solely rely on past detection methods. Moreover, governance issues arise as employees increasingly use AI productivity tools, potentially exposing sensitive data if systems are poorly configured.
The supply chain represents another critical vulnerability. Strong internal security can be undermined by a compromised software provider or third-party supplier. ENISA consistently identifies supply-chain attacks as a major concern, as one breach can cascade across many organizations.
Identity theft remains a significant weakness for companies. Stolen passwords, compromised credentials, and impersonation provide attackers with seemingly legitimate access. Phishing, for instance, accounted for 60 percent of intrusion access points identified by ENISA in 2025.
Many organizations lack sufficient cybersecurity specialists, resources, or continuous protection to manage these threats alone. According to Dovilė Vyčinė, Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania, cybersecurity is now a boardroom and business resilience issue. Businesses are particularly concerned about phishing, ransomware, system vulnerabilities, and supplier security. Continuous testing is vital, especially for smaller businesses, which can inadvertently become entry points for larger supply chains.
Given these elevated threat levels, a new cybersecurity model offers a solution. Companies like Buck4Bug connect organizations with ethical hackers. These experts continuously test digital assets, identify vulnerabilities, and expose weaknesses before malicious actors can exploit them. This establishes an ongoing process of testing, reporting, and remediation, moving beyond periodic security assessments.
The bug bounty model allows vetted security researchers to test agreed systems and securely report vulnerabilities. Buck4Bug manages the process, including triage and reward payments, providing actionable intelligence. This model also creates new opportunities for cybersecurity specialists, transforming hackers from potential threats into valuable contributors to defence.
Paulius Šliavas, Buck4Bug CEO, notes, “A community of more than 1,000 hackers demonstrates the potential of distributed security testing.” Many skilled researchers examining systems from diverse perspectives can uncover weaknesses that a conventional audit might miss. Ultimately, cybersecurity is about resilience and business continuity.
The question is not if an attack will occur, but how quickly an organization can respond and continue operating. For Europe, the message is clear: cybersecurity transcends a mere IT department concern. It is integral to national resilience and European defence. Protecting these increasingly digital systems is just as important as investing in physical defence hardware.
