The ECCC launched a knowledge-sharing webinar series throughout May 2024

In May, the European Cybersecurity Community project (ECCO), supported by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC), hosted six insightful webinars on key cybersecurity topics throughout May. These sessions covered both technical aspects, like security by design and artificial intelligence, and non-technical areas, including European and national perspectives on cybersecurity for space. They also discussed bridging the EU's VC funding gaps through public-private cooperation and initiatives for youth. These efforts aimed to strengthen collaboration and build a European cybersecurity community, enhancing understanding of cybersecurity in Europe.

The ECCO project Community Groups organised six knowledge-sharing webinars in May, leveraging resources across various cybersecurity sectors. The six established ECCO Community Groups cover various topics within the realm of skills development, support for start-ups and SMEs, human factors in cybersecurity, synergies between civilian and space applications, cybersecurity road-mapping, and supply chain trust. They aim to involve National Cybersecurity Centres (NCCs) and engage the wider European cybersecurity community in capacity-building dialogues. The goal is to share knowledge and expertise on key cybersecurity topics relevant to Europe, aligning with the ECCC's strategic agenda. The following sections provide an overview of each webinar.

Certification for the Secure Lifecycle of Systems, 7 May 2024

This webinar, organised by the ECCO Community group on Trusted Supply Chains, aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the certification processes for secure systems lifecycle management. It analysed key challenges in the deployment, operation, and maintenance phases, focusing on certification composition, vulnerability management, and security testing. Additionally, the session highlighted ENISA’s activities related to the EU cybersecurity scheme for cloud services (EUCS), with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence systems. The talk included an overview of the challenges, guidelines, and future directions for implementing automation in EU-based certification schemes.

The distinguished guest speakers Antonio Skarmeta (Murcia University), Jose Luis Hernandez (University of Murcia), Dr. Sara N Matheu (University of Murcia); Jesus Luna Garcia (Robert Bosch GmbH.), were present during the webinar and provided his valuable perspectives and actionable insights into this critical topic for Europe.

We invite you to read the presentation HERE.

 
Security-by-design for SMEs exploiting trusted hardware, 22 May 2024

With the widespread adoption of software solutions across various applications, ensuring the integrity of deployed software and configurations is increasingly crucial. Since software alone can not be protected by software, a hardware root-of-trust, like the TPM (Trusted Platform Module), is necessary. TPM is mandatory for recent Windows versions and available for many IoT and embedded boards. However, many developers overlook its functionality and the open-source tools available.

This session, hosted by the ECCO Community Group on Human Factors, addressed these issues and demonstrated how to use a root-of-trust with existing tools. Human factors, such as trust and investment in Security-by-design, are particularly relevant for small organizations like SMEs. Antonio Lioy, Full Professor of Cybersecurity at Politecnico di Torino, shared valuable insights and practical advice on this critical topic for Europe.

We invite you to read the presentation HERE.

Engagement in Cyber Security for Space from European and National Perspectives, 28 May 2024

This webinar, organised by ECCO Community Group on Synergies in Cybersecurity for Civilian and Space Applications, featuring Delia Spinu, Junior Regulatory Consultant at Nexova, focused on analysing the European and national strategies to the cyber security in the space sector. The session explored the roles and responsibilities of European and national space agencies and entities who are involved in guaranteeing the cyber security for space. The aim was to provide the audience with comprehensive information on the diverse ways in which European and national strategies contribute to cyber  security in the space sector. This meeting served as a follow-up to the previous webinar“ EU funding opportunities for space cybersecurity” held in April.

We invite you to read the presentation HERE.

Challenges and intersection of AI and Cybersecurity, 29 May 2024

This webinar, organised by the ECCO Community Group on Roadmapping, focused on the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its profound impact on our society. This webinar focuses on using AI for enhanced cybersecurity protection. After a brief introduction the first talk will explore how Machine Learning can be used in Network Intrusion Detection Systems. The second talk will explain how Large Language Models can be used to improve Cyber Threat Intelligence. The third talk will look at the use of generative AI for cyber incident simulation.

The distinguished guest speakers Philippe Massonet (CETIC), Bruno Volckaert (Professor, IDLab, Ghent University/IMEC), Erkuden Rios (Tecnalia/Project Manager of the AI4CYBER project), and Eider Iturbe (Tecnalia/Technical Manager of the DYNABIC project), were present during the webinar and provided his valuable perspectives and actionable insights into this critical topic for Europe.

We invite you to read the presentation HERE.

Investing in Cybersecurity: Bridging the EU's VC Funding Gap through Public-Private Cooperation, 29 May 2024

This online info session, organised by ECCO Community Group on Start-ups, Scale-ups, and SMEs, explored the European cybersecurity market through the perspective of venture capital (VC) investments, with a comparative analysis of the US market, a global leader in cybersecurity VC funding. The session addressed the challenges impeding the growth of the European cybersecurity sector from a VC standpoint and examined strategies to overcome these obstacles and drive growth in the region. Attendees gained valuable insights into the current state of the European cybersecurity market and its significant shortfall in VC funding compared to other regions. The session served as a platform for stimulating dialogue and collaboration among public and private stakeholders, emphasising the critical role of public-private partnerships in closing the funding gap and fostering innovation and growth within the European cybersecurity ecosystem.

The distinguished guest speaker Michael Lucassen (Managing Partner, TIN Capital), was present during the webinar and provided his valuable perspectives and actionable insights into this critical topic for Europe.
 

Cyber Games and Initiatives for Youth, 31 May 2024

The ECCO Community Group on Skills hosted a webinar titled “Cyber Games and Initiatives for Youth” to explore innovative cyber games aimed at teaching cyber hygiene and basic cybersecurity concepts to children and teenagers. The goal was to educate and inspire interest in cybersecurity careers among young people.

Games presented included:

• HackShield: This game educates kids on cybersecurity, focusing on ages 8-12, and encourages safety skills and partnerships with schools and NGOs globally. It aims to inspire a new generation of cybersecurity professionals, preparing them for the digital economy.
• Nabbovaldo and the Cyber Blackmail: Targeting children aged 11-14, this video game enhances digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness. It covers topics like malware, phishing, and online scams through a single-player experience that can be used in classrooms or played independently, featuring a mix of free navigation, character interactions, and mini-games.

The distinguished guest speakers Emily Jacometti (HackShield) and Giorgia Bassi (CNR), were present during the webinar and provided his valuable perspectives and actionable insights into this critical topic for Europe.

We invite you to read the presentation HERE.

The ECCC remains committed to building a robust European cybersecurity community. Moving forward, the ECCC will continue its efforts to provide platforms for the exchange of knowledge among National Coordination Centres and the broader European community, particularly focusing on strategically important topics. Anticipate further knowledge-sharing webinars in June, and stay updated by following the ECCC on social media platforms HERE and HERE, as well as monitoring the events page HERE, to make sure you do not miss out on upcoming webinars.