Supporting the EU Security Union’s efforts in tackling cybercrime

Over the last decades, cybercrime has become one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing areas of crime. It is, therefore, no surprise that the EU Security Union Strategy for 2020-2025 highlighted cybercrime as a top priority for the European Union and its member states. The Cybercrime Victimisation Barometer (CYBBAR) has been established to address the issue. Ecorys, together with the Center for the Study of Democracy and Forentec GmbH, has been commissioned by the European Commission to implement the project. 

Currently, the study and investigation of cybercrime affecting the private sector are hampered by underreporting. Moreover, there is still a lack of knowledge on what makes businesses more likely to inform (or not inform) law enforcement agencies (LEAs) of cyber threats or cyber-security attacks. The CYBBAR aims to address this issue by improving the understanding of contemporary cyber threats and enhancing cooperation between LEAs and private partners with regard to investigations and reporting. The project aims to achieve its objectives in two ways:

• a pilot of a model for an EU-level standardised business survey on cybercrime victimisation;
• a pilot of a digital reporting tool designed on the basis of reporting mechanisms on cyber incidents in three selected Member states. 

The main output of the project will be:

• a validated methodology toolkit for conducting business cyber victimisation surveys (cyber victimisation barometer);
• three country case studies integrating the results of the cyber victimisation survey piloted in the Netherlands, Spain and Bulgaria.

The expected duration of the project is two years.

For more information, please contact Alexandra Rimpler-Schmid.