Europe’s critical infrastructure is becoming increasingly digital. Energy grids, transportation networks, healthcare systems, water services, and public administration platforms now rely heavily on interconnected digital technologies. 

With that in mind a very important question is emerging:

How resilient are these system? 

Why Critical Infrastructure Is an Attractive Target

Critical infrastructure includes systems that are essential for the functioning of society and the economy. These systems support services that citizens rely on every day, including electricity, water supply, transportation, healthcare, financial services, and public administration. 

Because of their importance, these infrastructures represent highly valuable targets for cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors. A successful cyberattack can cause widespread disruption, financial losses, and even risks to public safety. For example, cyberattacks targeting digital control systems could potentially disrupt electricity distribution, delay emergency services, or compromise water treatment facilities. In highly interconnected digital environments, even a small vulnerability can lead to cascading failures across multiple systems.

A Rapidly Growing Threat Landscape

So in recent years, cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure have grown in both frequency and sophistication. According to the latest Threat Landscape Analysis by ENISA,  essential entities now account for 53.7% of all recorded cybersecurity incidents targeting organisations in the EU.

 Among the most common types of cyberattacks affecting organizations today are:

• Ransomware attacks, where attackers encrypt systems or data and demand payment to restore access • Phishing attacks, which trick employees into revealing sensitive credentials or granting system access
• Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, designed to overwhelm systems and make services unavailable
• Supply chain attacks, where attackers infiltrate systems through third-party vendors or software providers
• Data breaches, which expose sensitive personal or operational information

And these attacks are no longer limited to traditional IT systems. As digital technologies expand into operational environments such as industrial control systems, smart city platforms, and connected infrastructure, the potential attack surface continues to grow.

The Risks of Increasing Digitalisation

Digital transformation is bringing enormous benefits to infrastructure systems. Smart sensors, cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, and industrial IoT technologies are helping organizations improve efficiency, automate processes, and deliver better services.

However, these technologies also increase system complexity and interconnectivity. This makes cybersecurity more challenging, as vulnerabilities in one component can potentially affect entire networks.

For example, smart city systems rely on thousands of connected devices to manage services such as traffic control, waste management, and environmental monitoring. If these devices are not properly secured, they can become entry points for attackers seeking access to broader networks.

Similarly, critical industrial systems used in sectors like energy, water management, and transportation were not originally designed with modern cybersecurity threats in mind. As these systems become connected to digital networks, new security challenges emerge.

A recent example of this was the reported April 2026 cyberattack, targeting the operational technology

(OT) of the Piazza San Marco flood defense system in Venice. A hacker group calling itself the

“Infrastructure Destruction Squad” or “Dark Engine” claimed they infiltrated the hydraulic pump system, potentially compromising the barriers that protect the iconic square from flooding.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure

Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive and coordinated cybersecurity approach. Organizations must combine advanced technologies, strong governance frameworks, and continuous monitoring to detect and respond to cyber threats effectively.

One of the most important mechanisms for protecting critical infrastructure is the use of Security Operations Centers (SOCs). These specialized centres monitor networks and systems in real time, analyze security alerts, and coordinate responses to cyber incidents. By integrating threat intelligence, automated detection tools, and advanced analytics, SOCs help organizations identify suspicious activity early and prevent cyberattacks from escalating into major disruptions.

Strengthening Europe’s Cyber Resilience

Recognising the importance of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, the European Union has introduced several regulatory initiatives aimed at strengthening digital resilience across Member States. Frameworks such as the NIS2 Directive, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) are designed to improve cybersecurity standards and enhance cooperation between organizations and authorities.

These initiatives encourage organizations to adopt stronger security practices, improve incident reporting mechanisms, and enhance supply chain security. Projects such as iSOCaaS (Intelligent Security Operations Center as a Service) contribute to this broader effort by developing innovative cybersecurity capabilities that help organizations monitor, detect, and respond to cyber threats more effectively. Strengthening cyber resilience is not only a technical challenge but also a societal one. Ensuring the security of essential digital infrastructure is fundamental for safeguarding public services, maintaining economic stability, and protecting citizens in an increasingly connected world.