The European Union has issued a call to its citizens to stock up on food and essential items that would allow them to survive at least 72 hours in the event of a crisis. According to new guidelines published by the European Commission on March 27, 2025, Europe must rethink its approach to safety and “resilience.” But in an increasingly digital world, real resilience can’t be limited to water and food rations. Every modern emergency and crisis response plan must also include digital preparedness. From electricity and emergency services to healthcare and food logistics—everything depends on code, warn cybersecurity experts from Check Point Software Technologies.
A New Reality of Risk and Uncertainty
The European Commission’s document outlines a new reality in which risk and uncertainty have become part of daily life—driven by factors such as Russia’s war in Ukraine, growing geopolitical tensions, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and cyber warfare. The initiative from Brussels acts as a wake-up call for member states to recognize the severity of the current security landscape across the EU.
The Russian Threat and the Need for Wartime Preparedness
The persistent threat from Russia has led European leaders to stress the need for military readiness. Added to that is the confrontational stance of Donald Trump’s administration toward Europe, especially concerning NATO contributions and the war in Ukraine, which has prompted a race to boost defense readiness across the continent.
According to the EU Preparedness Strategy, citizens are urged to take practical steps to ensure self-sufficiency for at least three days. The document states that the initial phase of a crisis is the most critical, and people should be encouraged to develop both self-reliance and psychological resilience. However, digital resilience should be viewed as an essential component of both personal and public safety—not a cause for panic, but a call for smart planning, experts conclude.
Cyber Threats and Their Societal Impact
Recent years have only confirmed the relevance of these warnings:
- In 2015, more than 230,000 Ukrainians lost electricity in a coordinated cyberattack on the power grid. Backup systems were destroyed, and operations had to be restored manually.
- A second attack in 2016 proved it was no fluke—this is the new face of modern conflict.
- In 2021, the Colonial Pipeline incident showed how a single compromised password could disrupt half of the fuel supply in the eastern U.S., leading to panic buying, flight delays, and empty gas stations—not due to a natural disaster, but a ransomware attack.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, cyberattacks on European hospitals had life-or-death consequences. In Germany, a ransomware attack forced an emergency room closure, resulting in a patient’s death after being redirected to another hospital.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has also brought waves of disinformation, deepfakes, and false evacuation messages flooding social media, undermining public trust and creating widespread confusion.
Digital systems now underpin a vast array of sectors. “We often forget that small and medium-sized businesses, local governments, and even agriculture are becoming increasingly digitized—and therefore vulnerable,” emphasize analysts from Check Point Software. For example, farmers rely on operational technology (OT) for crop management, irrigation, storage, and distribution. A targeted cyberattack could paralyze food supply chains across entire regions.
“Small businesses are the backbone of European economies. Disruptions in logistics, manufacturing, or retail can collapse supply chains, destroy livelihoods, and harm local communities. Road traffic systems, hospitals, and urban infrastructure now run on digital code. A single successful cyberattack could disable city services and trigger a regional domino effect,” the experts warn.
The Role of Governments in Ensuring Preparedness
“The new reality calls for a new level of preparedness in Europe,”
— said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
“Our citizens, member states, and businesses need the right tools to not only prevent crises but also respond quickly when disaster strikes.”
The European Commission’s guidelines come as member states continue to update their emergency response plans. In June of last year, Germany revised its General Defense Framework Directive, detailing steps to take in the event of a conflict in Europe. Announcing the changes, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that they are essential for Germany to be better equipped against Russian aggression.
“Resilience cannot rest solely on the shoulders of citizens or underfunded organizations. Telling people to buy batteries and bottled water is just the beginning. The real focus must be on securing the systems that those supplies depend on,”
— stresses Wojciech Głażewski, Country Manager at Check Point Poland.
NIS2 Directive: A Step Forward in Cybersecurity
The EU’s NIS2 Directive is a strong step in the right direction. Experts agree it expands cybersecurity obligations across more sectors, introduces stricter incident reporting rules, and empowers regulators to enforce compliance. Importantly, it embraces an “all-threats” approach, recognizing that physical, cyber, and hybrid threats are increasingly indistinguishable.
But policy alone is not enough—it must be backed by funding and implementation. “Cybersecurity isn’t a poker game. Hackers and cybercriminals are no longer bluffing—they are attacking. Governments must ensure resources reach local governments, critical sectors, and SMEs—not just large institutions. Investment in skills development, information sharing, and practical resilience initiatives across Europe is essential.”
Source: CEO.com.pl – Brussels Urges Resilience: From Food Supplies to Digital Protection
