intensified. Existing events, congresses and initiatives devoted to cyber security will continue to be supported and promoted. legal certainty in Austrian cyberspace. Austria’s position is contributed actively to international working groups of lawmakers. Examining existing control loops to strengthen cyber security competence: Cyber security strategies must be adapted to both constant and unpredictable changes of technologies, applications and markets. They need to update their cyber security competence on an ongoing basis. The exchange of information at national and international level as well as the establishment of control loops supplying one another with new knowledge and findings will prove useful in this context. Studies will have to be carried out in order to comply with the latter mandate. Moreover, the necessary processes (feedback and learning loops) will also have to be initiated. Measures Objective 3: Enhancing the legal framework for cyber security Establishing a flexible structure for legislators of cyber security: All the options for establishing a new and flexible structure for the legislators of cyber security matters must be analysed. The aim will be to set up and promote a legal structure for cyber security that keeps pace with developments in cyberspace. Hypothesis: It is vital to regulate cyberspace so as to give people a feeling of security and confidence when using integrated digital technologies. All types of digital information and communication technology (ICT) existing in Austria must be taken into account. In Austria the legislator reacted at an early stage to the specificities of ICT by laying down rules in different laws. Legislators have been faced with new national and global challenges due to the ICT penetration throughout the world. To keep abreast with fast-moving technological and social processes on the Internet, adjusted processes have to be created to establish legal certainty reflecting the “state of the art”. Strategic objectives: Austria’s legal framework for cyber security must be adapted to or developed in line with the objectives and requirements of the existing Cyber Security Strategy. The aim is to ensure that legislation keeps abreast of the changes in cyberspace to create 12 Analysing the status quo of current legal provisions relating to cyber security and filling gap in Austrian legislation: All areas of Austrian cyberspace that need to be regulated by issuing ordinances in Austria will be analysed. Which areas are already covered by which laws? Which ordinances governing the same matters complement one another or exist in parallel? Which areas are currently regulated inadequately or not at all? Contradictory provisions in different laws will be eliminated, while new laws will be drafted for relevant issues not previously covered. The enormous responsibility of operators of critical infrastructures must be taken into account in this context. Participating in the development of an international legal framework for cyber security: Austria must actively participate in the discussion and development of international regulations/recommendations on cyber security by forming alliances with other nations so as to contribute fundamental Austrian values to international legal instruments. Objective 4: Promoting international cooperation Hypothesis: The Internet is a global phenomenon—like the threats posed by the Internet. The international dimension of the cyber threat is growing at an alarming rate. A stringent and consistent strategy with an