obligation. As of the development phase of this document, about fifteen nations
and the EU have a second-generation cybersecurity strategy, Estonia among
them.5 With the third cybersecurity strategy, we are among the first countries in
the world.
Today, cybersecurity is universally accepted as an integral part of the functioning
of the state, the economy, internal and external security. The accelerating, diversifying and largely unpredictable digitalisation poses major challenges to risk
identification and management. Next to these, the Estonian society today is not
sufficiently well prepared for coping with existing cyber threats – the private and
public sector alike are largely unaware of the risks and needs, in particular at the
leadership level.
Digital technologies now have such an intertwined role in Estonian society that
it is not possible to address all risks through a single planning document. The
principles of cybersecurity are already partially integrated into sectoral planning
processes. However, the maintenance and development of a sustainable digital
environment also requires cross-sectoral focused cooperation. This can only be
ensured by means of a strong and coherent sectoral strategy. In addition, the
cybersecurity strategy plays the role of a communication tool for raising awareness in political decision-making processes, enhancing public-private partnership,
and shaping Estonia’s international engagement.
The Cybersecurity Strategy was prepared in a coherent process with Estonia’s
Digital Agenda 2020. Our experience has brought an understanding that in a successful digital society, developing information society and ensuring cybersecurity
must be a strategic whole. The role of cybersecurity in the information society is
to ensure conditions for efficient and secure use of opportunities offered by ICTs.
The objectives and key indicators of the cybersecurity strategy are planned in a
four-year perspective, with an interim review planned at the end of the current
Digital Agenda in 2020.
The relevant terms and definitions are summarised in Appendix 1.
5
https://ccdcoe.org/cyber-security-strategy-documents.html
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