European Cyber Defense at a Crossroads: Why a New Doctrine Is Not a Choice but a Necessity (and an Opportunity)

In the digital era, where cyber threats are growing at an exponential pace and geopolitical tensions are reshaping established orders, Europe faces a critical challenge: to rethink and radically transform its cyber defense. Recent shifts in the global strategic landscape and the increasing sophistication of attacks clearly demonstrate that traditional models are no longer sufficient. Europe needs a new, comprehensive doctrine that integrates civilian, military, and private resources, placing cyberspace at the center of strategic planning. For investors and innovators such as Luminova Ventures, this transformation represents not only a responsibility but also a major opportunity.

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Why Europe Needs a New Cyber Doctrine

The current state of European cyber defense is alarming. Although cyberspace is formally recognized as the fourth operational domain—alongside land, sea, and air—this acknowledgment has not yet translated into genuine strategic anchoring. As Andrea Rigoni aptly points out in her article “Reinventing Cyber Defence,” it is not enough simply to acknowledge the domain; cyberspace must become a central pillar of defensive strategy and operational doctrine.

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Key Problems with the Current Approach

• Fragmentation and Inadequate Coordination: Defense remains fragmented between civilian and military components, often with minimal or only reactive coordination. National cybersecurity agencies may develop regulatory frameworks (such as NIS2 or DORA), but they lack effective operational linkage and systemic risk management across sectors.
• Crucial Role of the Private Sector: Most critical infrastructure and digital services are privately owned. These private entities are not only primary targets of attacks but also the first line of defense. However, current models often fail to involve them effectively in national defense structures beyond mere regulatory compliance.
• Limitations of Traditional Military Doctrines: Cyberspace differs fundamentally from physical battlefields. Digital code has no inherent meaning until it is interpreted within a specific technological and operational context. Traditional military strategies, designed for kinetic operations, encounter their limits here.
• Systemic Risk and Cascading Effects: Infrastructures are interconnected. An attack on a seemingly isolated system can trigger a domino effect across multiple sectors. A prime example is the attack on identical solar panel controllers, which effectively created a “virtual critical infrastructure” with nationwide consequences.
• Slow Development and Implementation: Crafting and implementing a comprehensive doctrine can take 10 to 20 years at the current pace. In the context of rapidly evolving threats, such a delay is unacceptable.
  
  

Three Pillars for a New European Cyber Doctrine

To overcome these challenges and build a resilient, proactive cyber defense, Rigoni’s analysis (and other experts as well as key EU and NATO strategic documents) propose three essential steps:
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1. Transform National Cyber Coordination Centers (NCCC): From Regulatory Bodies to Operational Hubs

National cyber agencies and coordination centers must evolve from primarily regulatory and analytical organizations into dynamic operational centers. These centers should:

• Integrate civilian, military, and key private actors (operators of critical infrastructure).
• Provide shared situational awareness in real time, combining data from both military and civilian sources.
• Enable proactive defense and rapid, coordinated incident response.
• Anticipate the potential impacts of cyber threats on vital services.

✨ Opportunity for investors: Investing in technologies and platforms that enable data fusion, advanced threat analysis (including AI/ML), secure information sharing, and automated response for these future operational centers.
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2. Establish an Extended Permanent Cyber Defense Force (EPCDF): Mobilizing Civilian Expertise

The concept of an Extended Permanent Cyber Defense Force (EPCDF) represents an innovative approach to leveraging talent. It would consist of a network of cyber professionals who:

• Remain embedded in their civilian roles (in the private sector, critical infrastructure, research, or public administration).
• Are simultaneously permanently integrated into national cyber defense efforts under military coordination.
• Unlike traditional reserves, the EPCDF would provide a constant, distributed defense capability, ensuring scalability and rapid response.

Global Approaches to Similar Concepts

The UK’s Integrated Operating Concept 2025 emphasizes permanent civilian–military integration in cyberspace, bringing private critical‐infrastructure operators into standing operations and linking armed forces with civilian resources for rapid coordinated response. In the US, the proposed Cyber National Guard would function as a cyber reserve within the National Guard, training private‐sector experts for state and federal deployments during cyber incidents. Estonia’s Cyber Defence League mobilizes civilian IT volunteers to work alongside government and military authorities in exercises and real‐world operations, bolstering national resilience. Analyses from SWP‐Berlin highlight a shift within the EU toward defining civilian agency roles alongside military structures for joint cyber operations, while EDA and ENISA documents call for permanent, scalable cyber capabilities linking national militaries with civilian CSIRTs across Europe .

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✨ Opportunity for investors: Supporting startups and programs focused on identifying, training, and integrating these civilian experts; developing platforms for their collaboration and knowledge sharing; and creating solutions for their secure involvement in defense operations.

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3. Build a Common Doctrine and Operational Framework at the NATO/EU Level: Strength in Unity

Fragmented approaches among individual European states weaken collective defense. It is essential to develop a shared doctrinal and operational framework at the NATO and EU levels that:

• Defines clear processes, responsibilities, and protocols for information sharing and operational coordination.
• Ensures full interoperability among member states in multinational contexts.
• Connects cyber defense with traditional military domains within the framework of multi-domain operations.

✨ Opportunity for investors: Investing in solutions that support interoperability, standardization, and secure communication channels across states and organizations, aligned with evolving NATO and EU standards.

Urgency and the Investment Imperative

The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. The current situation demands immediate action. Waiting for the slow, evolutionary development of doctrines is a luxury Europe cannot afford. It is necessary to accelerate legislative processes, actively connect sectors, and invest in innovative solutions.

For Luminova Ventures and like-minded investors, this means:

• Identifying and Supporting Innovators: Seeking out and funding companies developing cutting-edge technologies and services in the field of cybersecurity, especially those that support the three pillars outlined above.
• Focusing on Dual-Use Capabilities: Technologies developed for the civilian sector can have critical defense applications and vice versa. Supporting projects with the potential for dual use is strategically wise.
• Building Ecosystems: Investing in platforms and initiatives that foster collaboration between the public and private sectors, academia, and research institutions.
• Embracing a Long-Term Vision: Cybersecurity is not a short-term trend but a permanent necessity. Investments in this area are investments in Europe’s future stability and prosperity.

Conclusion: Toward a New Era of European Resilience

Transforming Europe’s cyber defense is a monumental task that requires courage, vision, and cooperation. Adopting a new, integrated doctrine is not merely a matter of military strategy; it is a fundamental prerequisite for protecting our economy, critical infrastructure, and democratic values. For Luminova Ventures and the entire innovation ecosystem, this challenge offers a unique opportunity to participate in building a safer, more resilient Europe while generating value by supporting transformative technologies and models. The time to act is now.

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