- May 19, 2026
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- May 19, 2026
Europe’s security environment is increasingly defined by the intersection of cyber threats, defense capabilities, and digital infrastructure. Critical sectors – from energy systems and public administration to military operations – depend on secure digital networks and cloud-based architectures. At the same time, cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure across Europe are increasing in frequency and sophistication, exposing vulnerabilities in the systems that underpin both national security and economic stability.
Resilience in this environment requires more than improved cybersecurity measures. It demands an integrated approach that aligns cyber capabilities, defense modernization, and the governance of digital infrastructure. Cloud infrastructure in particular has become a strategic asset: it enables the continuity of essential services during crises, supports cyber threat detection and response, and increasingly underpins modern defense operations and allied interoperability.
The Challenge
Despite growing awareness of these interdependencies, Europe’s resilience architecture remains fragmented. Cybersecurity strategies, defense modernization efforts, and cloud governance debates often evolve separately rather than as part of a coherent operational framework. At the same time, structural gaps persist in cooperation between governments, defense institutions, and technology providers.
Public institutions increasingly rely on private-sector technology to operate and secure critical systems, yet procurement cycles remain slow, governance structures for transnational digital infrastructure are insufficiently coordinated, and mechanisms for joint crisis response remain limited. As cyber threats, defense operations, and cloud dependencies converge, these gaps risk undermining Europe’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to crises.
European Policy Responses
European institutions and NATO have begun to address these challenges. Initiatives such as the EU Cybersecurity Blueprint, debates around European cloud sovereignty, and growing attention to digital infrastructure within NATO defense planning reflect a recognition that technological capabilities are central to Europe’s resilience and security.
However, important gaps remain between strategic policy frameworks and operational implementation. Questions about how governments, allies, and technology providers should coordinate in practice – particularly when responding to cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure – remain insufficiently addressed.
Goal and Format
The European Resilience Roundtable: Cyber, Defense & Cloud as Strategic Infrastructure convenes senior decision-makers from government, defense institutions, technology companies, and civil society to examine how Europe can strengthen resilience across these interconnected domains.
Discussions will focus on two key questions: how cyber resilience, defense capabilities, and cloud infrastructure can be integrated into a coherent operational framework, and what it means in practice to treat cloud infrastructure as strategic infrastructure for national security, economic resilience, and allied interoperability. Participants will explore pathways for joint incident response, improved public–private cooperation, governance arrangements that enable faster and more secure decision-making, and procurement frameworks that balance sovereignty, security, and innovation.
The roundtable forms part of a broader European series organized by the Aspen Institute Germany in partnership with the Aspen Brussels Hub and Microsoft. Held in Madrid, Berlin, Warsaw, and Brussels, the initiative will generate country-specific insights that feed into a consolidated European Resilience Report presented to key EU stakeholders.
Panel 1: How can Europe build truly integrated resilience across cyber, defense, and cloud infrastructure?
Europe’s security increasingly depends on the ability to align cyber capabilities, defense systems, and digital infrastructure. Yet policies, operational capabilities, and governance frameworks often remain fragmented across institutions and sectors. This session examines how governments, NATO allies, and technology providers can strengthen coordination and build a more integrated resilience framework capable of responding to evolving cyber and hybrid threats.
Key Questions:
• What are the most critical vulnerabilities in Europe’s cyber and digital infrastructure today?
• Where do the biggest gaps exist in cyber-defense coordination between governments, NATO, and industry?
• How can cyber resilience, defense modernization, and digital infrastructure strategies be better aligned at the national and EU level?
• What governance models enable faster decision-making and coordinated responses during cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure?
• How can public–private cooperation be strengthened to support joint threat detection, response, and resilience planning?
Panel 2: What does treating cloud as strategic infrastructure mean for European policy and procurement?
Cloud infrastructure is becoming the backbone of modern digital ecosystems, supporting everything from public administration to cyber defense and military operations. Recognizing cloud as strategic infrastructure raises new questions about sovereignty, security, procurement, and interoperability among allies.
Key Questions:
• Why should cloud infrastructure be considered critical strategic infrastructure for Europe?
• How does cloud technology enable modern defense operations and cyber threat response?
• What are the implications of relying on cloud providers for security-critical systems?
• How can European governments design procurement frameworks that balance sovereignty, security, and innovation?
• What role should technology providers play in strengthening Europe’s cyber resilience and operational readiness?
