European Commission deploys crack Computer Emergency Response Team

The European Commission (EC) has deployed its anti-hacker Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-EU) on a permanent basis at its largest institutions to combat the growing number of cyber threats it's facing.

CERT's are small teams of experts embedded within companies and organisations that are designed to help protect against cyber threats and manage data breaches and are increasingly common within private and public sector organisations.

The EU reportedly chose to test the tactic to help protect its Parliament, Commission and Council organisations from growing cyber threats.

"The EU institutions, like any other major organisations, are frequently the target of information security incidents. CERT-EU is helping us to improve our protection against these threats," said EU vice president Maroš Šefčovič.

"It is a very successful example of what the EU institutions can achieve when they work together. We want our CERT to be among the best, closely co-operating with the rest of the CERT community and contributing to cyber security for all."

The EC initially launched the CERT-EU initiative on a trial basis in 2011 as a part of the department's wider Digital Agenda.

"Cyber security is a priority for Europe's welfare and competitiveness. The EU institutions can now count on a permanent CERT to deal with increasingly sophisticated cyber threats against them," said EC Digital Agenda chief Neelie Kroes.

"This decision ensures we are practising what we preach."

The EC urged other member state governments to follow its example and create their own CERTs. The news follows Kroes previous criticism of member states' military approach to cyber security.

For more insight into some of the major security issues affecting businesses make sure you sign up to the V3 Security Summit taking place on Tuesday 25 September which includes high-level speakers such as Nathaniel Borenstein and Bruce Schneier.