The seventh edition of the pan-European Cyber Europe exercise will take place in June 2024. The exercise scenario envisions a foreign power, political tensions, and attacks on the energy sector across the European Union, targeting digital infrastructure and public administration as secondary objectives to increase pressure and sow chaos.
Context – Energy Sector
Cyberattacks on energy and commodity infrastructure have been on the rise since 2017, with a record number of attacks in 2022.
Cybersecurity has become a major threat to commodity industries and markets over the last decade, with hackers seeking to steal data and disrupt the flow of resources. As energy infrastructure is crucial for modern economies, oil and gas companies are particularly attractive to cybercriminals. Facing this growing threat, it is critical for energy industry leaders to take steps to protect against evolving attacks.
This is why the seventh biennial Cyber Europe exercise will be focused on the energy sector!
Scenario
The energy sector, a critical component of the European economy, has become a primary target of cyber threats amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the European Union and the foreign nation of Voltaros.
The European Union relies heavily on its energy infrastructure to maintain economic growth and the stability of its member states. Anti-EU propaganda is rampant, and there are suspicions that APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) groups and other criminal organizations are collaborating to shift the balance of power toward their political allies by targeting critical infrastructure.
Concerns are growing over the possibility of massive and destructive attacks aimed at destabilizing the European economy, triggering a domino effect. The energy sector, as a vital pillar of the European Union’s economic stability, is at the forefront of these concerns. The EU and its energy companies must remain vigilant and strengthen their cybersecurity posture to mitigate the potential impact of such targeted attacks.
For more information about the exercise, visit: https://www.enisa.europa.eu/topics/training-and-exercises/cyber-exercises/cyber-europe-programme/cyber-europe-2024
Contact Details:
For any inquiries regarding Cyber Europe 2024, please contact:
Local: ncert@cert.hr
Europe: exercises@enisa.europa.eu
Europe: communications and press – press@enisa.europa.eu
