Portugal is gaining recognition and making progress in cybersecurity due to the forward-thinking initiatives the government is taking to raise awareness and combat cybercrime. It is estimated that the country will have invested over €50 million into cybersecurity measures and initiatives by 2021. Portugal has committed to the goal of becoming a leader in Europe in cyber resilience.
Organizations active in Portugal’s cybersecurity space are the Portuguese Institute of National Defense, the A.G.N.E. – Agência Nacional de Tratamento de Incidentes de Segurança, the Portuguese Agency for the Security of Information Systems and the Commission for Computer Security – Portugal.
The Portuguese Institute of National Defense is responsible for ensuring the security of defense systems and networks in the country. It is the main point of contact for cyber defense services in Portugal. The A.G.N.E. works in response to security challenges and security incidents faced in the country, as well as promoting awareness of cyber security. Another important institution is the Portuguese Agency for the Security of Information Systems. This agency is responsible for the certification of IT systems in Portugal and also works to ensure the correctness and security of IT-related protocols, infrastructures, processes, and procedures. The Commission for Computer Security – Portugal provides support and guidance on trends, technical developments, and events in the field of IT security.
As far as events and cyber conferences in Portugal go, there is a range of local and international conferences and events. The Portugal Cybersecurity Summit has been running since 2017 and is a leading conference in Europe on cybersecurity. Other significant events are the International Forum on Cybersecurity and the Lisbon Security Conference which focus on information security in the public and private sectors.