The EU has set out its plans to create a Joint Cyber Unit – a new effort to coordinate how it deals with cyber security and jointly responds to cyber attacks across the 27 member countries.

“It’s very welcome news that the European Commission is intending to announce plans for a Joint Cyber Unit,” says Steve Forbes, government cyber security expert at Nominet. “The new effort includes rapid response teams ready to be deployed in the instance of an attack, as well as a game-changing platform for collaboration across the European Union, including intelligence, resources and expertise. This is exactly what’s needed to stem the tide against attacks that are only becoming more brazen and sophisticated.”

Until now, it has been reported that countries were hesitant to give away any control of their national security and that, states Forbes, “is completely understandable when you consider that cyber is increasingly being seen alongside traditional methods of defence, such as the army, navy and air force.” There is a middle ground, however, he points out, “where countries can benefit from centralised intelligence, overarching strategies and broad-reaching tactics. With similar threats faced across the European Union – particularly against critical infrastructure – often with the same adversaries, pulling together will allow the bloc to make step changes in its cyber defence”.

He also sees creating a powerful precedent for international collaboration “as central to our future global cyber defence”.