The impact of the cyber-attack on Estonia in 2007 on the development of cybersecurity policies : master's thesis

Bozhinov, Zharko (author), Prezelj, Iztok (mentor), Ristevska, Teodora Tea (co-mentor)

This master's thesis explores the impact of the 2007 cyberattack on Estonia, as well as how it affected cybersecurity policies in several EU member states and Estonia itself. Taking on a realistic approach, the thesis examines the key players and elements of the attack, revealing the complex ways in which it altered Estonia's cybersecurity environment. The three top EU cybersecurity countries—France, Lithuania, and Spain—as determined by the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) are also the subjects of the research. The study uses a qualitative research methodology and places a strong emphasis on analysis of primary and secondary data sources, case studies, and comparison techniques. These sources include academic studies, government documents, and perceptive expert interviews. Data triangulation enhances the reliability of the results. This research aims to provide a thorough understanding of how the cyberattack led unique development in policies across these countries by using a comparative lens. According to findings, Estonia responded to the cyber threat with rapid legislative changes that demonstrated a pro-active attitude to cybersecurity. Comparative analysis also reveals unique national details in policy responses, such as France's emphasis on setting the standard for respecting cyber risk assessments and Lithuania's and Spain's emphasis on excellent coordination of the governments' cybersecurity-related agencies. These conclusions provide insight into the adaptive measures that each country has taken.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cybersecurity, cyber-attack, Estonia, Spain, Lithuania, France, policy development, comparative analysis
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Place of publishing: Ljubljana
• Publisher: Z. Bozhinov
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 1 spletni vir (1 datoteka PDF (75 str.))
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-155647
• UDC: 355.02(043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 192360451
• Publication date in RUL: 10.04.2024

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vpliv kibernetskega napada na Estonijo leta 2007 na razvoj politik kibernetske varnosti : magistrsko delo

Abstract

Magistrsko delo obravnava vpliv kibernetskega napada iz leta 2007 na Estonijo ter njegov vpliv na politike kibernetske varnosti v več državah članicah EU in v Estoniji sami. Z realističnim pristopom magistrsko delo obravnava ključne akterje in elemente napada ter razkriva zapletene načine, na katere je spremenil estonsko okolje kibernetske varnosti. Predmet raziskave so tudi tri najboljše države EU na področju kibernetske varnosti - Francija, Litva in Španija - kot jih določa globalni indeks kibernetske varnosti (GCI). Študija uporablja kvalitativno raziskovalno metodologijo in daje velik poudarek analizi primarnih in sekundarnih virov podatkov, študijam primerov in primerjalnim tehnikam. Ti viri vključujejo akademske študije, vladne dokumente in pronicljive intervjuje s strokovnjaki. Triangulacija podatkov povečuje zanesljivost rezultatov. Namen raziskave je s komparativno metodo zagotoviti temeljito razumevanje, kako je kibernetski napad privedel do specifičnega razvoja politik v teh državah. Raziskava ugotavlja, da se je Estonija na kibernetsko grožnjo odzvala s hitrimi zakonodajnimi spremembami, ki so pokazale proaktiven odnos do kibernetske varnosti. Primerjalna analiza razkriva tudi edinstvene nacionalne podrobnosti v odzivih politik, kot je francoski poudarek na določanje standardov za upoštevanje ocene kibernetskega tveganja ter poudarek Litve in Španije na odličnem usklajevanju vladnih agencij, povezanih s kibernetsko varnostjo. Na podlagi teh ugotovitev je mogoče dobiti vpogled v adaptivne primere, ki jih je sprejela posamezna država.

• Keywords: kibernetska varnost, kibernetski napadi, Estonija, Španija, Litva, Francija, razvoj politik, primerjalna analiza