How Businesses Will Be Affected By The New Cybersecurity Directive

Cyber security is a prominent issue on the EU's digital agenda. Many governments and companies are vulnerable to cyber security threats. For this reason, there has recently been a push for a directive which would harmonize member state rules on cyber security. This led to a proposal by the European Parliament and of the Council for a Directive concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union. An agreement on the proposal was reached on the 7th of December 2015, and on the 14th of January 2016, the EU's internal market committee voted to support the agreement. Companies affected by this legislation are twofold: those which are considered to be "providers of essential services" and "digital service providers".