BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsmeddelelsen, engelsk utgave)

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly intertwined in our daily activities. Some of these ICT systems, services, networks and infrastructures (in short, ICT infrastructures) form a vital part of European economy and society, either providing essential goods and services or constituting the underpinning platform of other critical infrastructures. They are typically regarded as critical information infrastructures (CIIs) [1] as their disruption or destruction would have a serious impact on vital societal functions. Recent examples include the large-scale cyber-attacks targeting Estonia in 2007 and the breaks of transcontinental cables in 2008.

The World Economic Forum estimated in 2008 that there is a 10 to 20% probability of a major CII breakdown in the next 10 years, with a potential global economic cost of approximately 250 billion US$. [2]