Motivation to Participate & Impressions of the Summer School
Participants joined the Summer School with a strong desire to deepen their understanding of cybersecurity, particularly in specialised areas like maritime security. Lisett Reimann-Erik noted that she came to learn more about maritime security, to collaborate with experts from different countries, but also share her expertise: “I wanted to share my knowledge about risk management, how to provide services to maritime ports and also to co-operate with different countries, different authorities, and also get to know more people.”
Martina Castiglioni shared a similar sentiment and emphasised the need for continuous learning in the field as a motivation to join: “The knowledge we have today about cybersecurity issues is not enough for the issues that we have to face tomorrow.” She appreciated the multidisciplinary and holistic approach of the Summer School, highlighting the value of the varied teaching techniques, including interactive sessions and simulation exercises.
Katrin Aasmann found the complexity of maritime cybersecurity to be particularly compelling: “My motivation was to learn more especially about maritime and cybersecurity, because this is something we don’t hear a lot, and so far the most exciting part has been how complex this area can be.” Meanwhile, Cristos Velasco highlighted his interest in emerging fields: “My main motivation, essentially, is to learn more about some emerging fields of cybersecurity, particularly this field of cyber threat and cyberattacks in maritime ports, which is a big field.”
Being Part of the EU CyberNet Expert Pool
The EU CyberNet Expert Pool, which now comprises over 440 experts, offers a unique platform for professionals to contribute to a safe online global community while expanding their own knowledge in the field of cyber. For Cristos Velasco and Pilleriin Lillemets, the Expert Pool is a vital resource for connecting with like-minded professionals and gaining practical experience. “I have actually been part of the pool for quite some time. But now, being here, I see how this is a really great opportunity to connect with like-minded people and to gain practical experience,” Pilleriin Lillemets noted while Cristos Velasco agreed: “Being part of EU CyberNet is to mingle with a lot of professionals coming from different fields, learn from them and also widen your network of expertise.”
Martina Castiglioni sees the pool as a space for multidisciplinary collaboration, where experts can come together to create a more cyber-resilient world: “I think that EU CyberNet is where experts with different backgrounds come together to share experiences, create more knowledge and contribute to creating a more cyber-resilient world.” Similarly, Juan Pablo Gonzalez Gutierrez valued the interdisciplinary exchanges, noting the importance of sharing perspectives from different disciplines and regions.
For Katrin Aasmann, being part of the community was important, as she believed she had valuable expertise to share: “First, I joined because I wanted to be part of the community. I think I have enough expertise to give to others. But being part in this Summer School has given me a lot of knowledge.”
Issues in Cybersecurity
When it comes to the most critical challenges in cybersecurity, participants offered diverse perspectives. Juan Pablo Gonzalez Gutierrez highlighted the multifaceted nature of cybersecurity, noting that it encompasses not only technical aspects but also political and legal dimensions: “Cybersecurity is not just technical. It has some technical topics, but at the same time, it involves political and legal aspects. We need to understand that cybersecurity helps us in daily activities and business.”
Cristos Velasco echoed the concern about regulatory complexity, highlighting the challenge of complying with the vast array of regulations in cybersecurity. “One of the pressing issues is how to comply with the whole array of regulations in the field of cybersecurity and in diverse areas such as data protection and now AI,” Cristos Velasco echoed. “Overall, the complexity of all regulations is an issue. But in terms of when you go deeper in cyber, then I think what hurts the most is the supply chain risks and awareness raising,” Katrin Aasmann added
In addition, Lisett Reimann-Erik identified the lack of resources—both monetary and human—as a major issue: “I think resources are missing—monetary and staff-wise. There should be more people who are aware of issues dealing with cybersecurity and there should be more cooperation between authorities.”
Martina Castiglioni stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, involving multiple disciplines beyond IT and OT technologies: “I don’t believe we should focus on one major issue. We need to enable the full understanding of cybersecurity, as it has become a matter that cannot be tackled only with IT and OT technologies but also needs to involve different disciplines such as economy, security and psychology from a societal angle.” She also emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships and the efficient implementation of EU regulations similarly to others.
Petr Pospíšil draw attention to important, but often unnoticed dimension in cybersecurity: “It is definitely disinformation and information operations.
Pilleriin Lillemets concluded by offering a pragmatic view, emphasising the importance of consistent effort in addressing cybersecurity challenges: “We need to do the work. Even though it is ever-evolving, we as a community of cybersecurity professionals already know what the main issues are. We just need to keep calm, carry on, implement regulations, do the education and training, and manage the risks.”
The EU CyberNet Summer School 2024 provided participants with a rich environment for learning, networking and reflecting on the challenges ahead in cybersecurity. The diverse motivations and insights shared by these professionals underscore the importance of continued collaboration and education in building a more secure future for Europe and beyond.
The Summer School took place from 21st to 23rd August 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. The Summer School was co-organised with the National Cybersecurity Centre (Centro Nacional de Cibersegurança, CNCS) and Cybersecurity Digital Innovation Hub (C-HUB).
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