Cyber security is paramount in the digital age. As more and more of our lives are conducted online, we need better ways of protecting the multiplying inroads to our private data. After recent breaches in the European Union’s cyber security, lawmakers are instituting stringent defense initiatives to keep their people, and government, safe. But with officials deciding which areas are deserving of priority, will some internet hot spots be left in the cold?
This new level of security comes in the form of a cybersecurity law. Where once the European Parliament only wanted protection for areas they considered to be critical, namely high-traffic sites like Amazon and Google’s private data storage. Now lawmakers are urging that digital platforms be included in the umbrella of protection as well. Social networks and e-commerce sites, once left outside of this protective bubble, are being brought into the fold and are required to up their security measures.
Months of negotiations proceeded the decision to include these digital service platforms in the cyber security initiative. However, many officials felt that because these digital platforms lacked a connection to any threatening elements (i.e nuclear power plants, government offices), their inclusion in this program wasn’t necessary. Considering the massive amount of traffic these sites receive on a daily basis, the need for protecting the population superseded their connection to critical government offices.
While cloud computing and digital platforms have yet to receive the full recognition they deserve, being some of the most populated sites on line. It’s a step in the right direction to see EU officials recognizing the need for more indepth cyber security measures. Businesses, both personal and corporate, rely on the security of their online presence to continue operation. And while implementing new security features may be costly, nothing can compare to losing your entire life’s work to the stroke of a key.
