Top areas covered in companies' cybersecurity trainings in the EU 2024

Cybersecurity awareness has become a top priority for companies across the European Union, with 75 percent of organizations focusing on this topic in their training programs. This emphasis on awareness reflects a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digital business environment. The high priority given to cybersecurity training aligns with broader trends in corporate attitudes towards digital safety, as evidenced by the fact that 92 percent of large EU companies consider cybersecurity a very high or fairly high priority.

Sector-specific cybersecurity priorities

The importance of cybersecurity varies across different industry sectors. In the service activities and education, health, and social work sectors, 77 percent of companies view cybersecurity as a very high or fairly high priority. This figure drops slightly to 68 percent for companies in the industry sector. These sector-specific differences highlight the varying levels of perceived risk and the need for tailored cybersecurity approaches across different industries.

Geographic variations in cybersecurity attitudes

Cybersecurity priorities and practices show significant variations across EU member states. In Ireland and Malta, nearly 60 percent of companies consider cybersecurity a very high priority. However, in Romania, the majority of companies view cybersecurity as a low or very low priority, primarily due to cost concerns. This disparity in attitudes is also reflected in public opinion, with 64 percent of adults in Malta believing improved cybersecurity is important for the future use of technologies, compared to only 13 percent in Romania. These geographic differences underscore the need for targeted cybersecurity education and support across the EU.