Introduction

EU has established a Rolling Plan for ICT standardization 2025. Several of the items in that plan have relationship to cybersecurity. The rolling plan identifies several levels of standardization:

  • Foundational drivers
  • Key enablers
  • Societal challenges
  • Innovation for the digital single market
  • Sustainable growth
Where to find the rolling plan for 2025

The various levels are with relevance to cybersecurity are discussed below.

Foundational drivers

EU in its rolling plan for 2024 has identified cybersecurity / network and information security to be a foundational driver for ensuring the Internet. The work within IEC TC 57 WG 15 and thereby also IEC TR 63251-90-4 is part of this foundational driver.

Key enablers

5G and beyond is listed as a key enabler. 5G (and coming 6G) provides vital communication capabilities and has the same security issues as networks in general. The same goes of Internet of Things, which is also listed as a key enabler.

The key enabler electronic identification and trust services including e-signatures is an important part of the work in IEC TC 57 WG 15, as public-key infrastructure (PKI) is an integral part of the cybersecurity specifications within IEC TC 57 WG 15.

Societal challenges

eGovernment

Pandemic preparedness

Innovation for the digital single market

Blockchain and distributed digital ledger technologies

Decentralized public-key infrastructure (DPKI) is using the blockchain technology to interconnect public-key infrastructure (PKI) domains. DPKI supports the EU rolling plan in several ways:

  • FinTech: Banks have for years been dependent on PKI for providing cybersecurity. Use og DPKI will allow that security to be applied Europe-wide.
  • PKI has for years being the basis for cybersecurity. With the blockchain capabilities of DPKI, this capability will be extended to cover a wider area, like the whole of Europe.
  • eHealth: By including attribute certificates in the design, DPKI support the “need-to-know” access control allowing health information to be protected against unwanted access. The same feature will allow compliance with GDPR.
  • Provide for supply chain management within Europe.
  • Public-key certificates, by some called identity certificates, are a major part of PKI. With DPKI, identity assurance can be extended to all of Europe.
  • Digital signatures used for authentication is dependent on PKI.

Sustainable growth

Smart grids and smart metering

Under Sustainable Growth the Smart grids and smart metering section is especially important where the EN 62351 series in mention which is the IEC 62351 series adopted by CEN-CENELEC. The project under the fellowship is part of that series.