2. Principles C ybersecurity of the Slovak Republic is addressed by a complex system that includes not only regulations but also practical activities, such as risk management, detection and cybersecurity incident handling, system recovery, education, dissemination of security awareness and, last but not least, research and development of cybersecurity tools and processes. In order for such a large-scale system to work and for the various stakeholders to work together to maintain and develop it, the fundamental principles, based on the democratic values of the rule of law and reflecting a modern approach to national cybersecurity and international cooperation in this field, must be respected. 2.1 Fundamental human rights and freedoms come first in cyberspace C yberspace is a place where an increasing number of users meet with the ongoing digitalization, where they not only realize their needs, but also pass on part of their identity and privacy. We use the Internet for communication with our families and friends, purchase of consumer goods, paying bills or for managing our smart homes. Cyberspace is also a special operational domain, recognized by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Like the physical world, the cyberspace is not an ideal place as well. In the last two decades, we have witnessed an increasing frequency of cyberattacks, greater sophistication of attackers and increasing losses on the part of victims. The Slovak Republic promises to respect fundamental human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promotes the position that human rights are enforceable both in the „offline“ and in the „online“ 6 | The National Cybersecurity Strategy 2021 -2025 space. The Slovak Republic upholds and enforces this position in the long term and commits to other states with the same value system, and also supports the responsible behavior of states and a uniform interpretation of international law in cyberspace. We have to consider the cyberspace as the equivalent of the physical world, together with the application of clear rules that will respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms stipulated by the constitution, including the right to privacy, so that it is not only secure but also open, free and accessible to everybody concerned. The security of cyberspace must be interconnected to its freedom, and fundamental human rights and freedoms in the digital space can only be guaranteed if the digital sovereignty of the states of the European Union as a whole is preserved, which also ensures the independence and sovereignty in cyberspace.