greece

The Hellenic National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA) of the Ministry of Digital Governance is the competent national authority for cybersecurity according to the EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS Directive – 2016/1148) and National Law 4577/2018. The Hellenic National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA) of the Ministry of Digital Governance is the competent national authority for cybersecurity in Greece, according to the EU Network and Information Security Directive (NIS Directive – 2016/1148) and National Law 4577/2018. NCSA operates under the Ministry of Digital Governance and functions as a General Directorate, with four (4) Directorates, covering the areas of cybersecurity strategic planning, prevention and protection, business continuity and coordination. Its scope has four (4) main pillars, covering the whole spectrum of the cybersecurity domain: (i) strategy (ii) regulatory compliance, (iii) operational role, and (iv) technical function. In this respect, the NCSA has regulatory competencies; it performs ex-ante and ex-post, on-site and off-site cybersecurity audits and checks, and has the statutory power to impose administrative fines in case of cybersecurity regulation violations. The NCSA employs public sector officials, including cybersecurity experts, IT engineers, legal experts, and public management officials. NCSA is central to the national cybersecurity ecosystem and has established ongoing collaborations with the Governmental CERT, the National CSIRT, the National Intelligence Service, and other national competent authorities. Furthermore, the NCSA collaborates with EU agencies, authorities, and organisations, representing Greece in all European and international organisations, bodies and in the field of cybersecurity, such as the NIS Cooperation Group, ENISA, ECCC and the EU CSIRT Network, EU CYCLONE. Following the adoption of art. 31 of L.5002/2022 (National Gazette A’ 228/09-12-2022), the “Consolidated Cybersecurity Reference Centre” is established under the NCSA, which will operate as a National SOC. Furthermore, the NCSA operates as the designated National Coordination Centre (NCC – EL) of the European Competence Cybersecurity Centre (Regulation 887/2021) as stipulated in art. 17 of L.4961/2022 (National Gazette A’146/27-7-2022). The NCC – EL is supported by the Information Society S.A. (a public-owned enterprise operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Digital Governance) in fulfilling its funding management tasks according to art. 27 of L.5002/2022 (National Gazette A’ 228/09-12-2022). The NCSA and Information Society S.A. have signed and maintained a Programme Agreement, stipulating that the Information Society S.A. supports the NCSA in developing its operational capabilities.