Ransomware, 5G, European sovereignty, cybercampus… ANSSI sets out its ambitions at FIC 2023

Guillaume Poupard, the director general of the National Information Systems Security Agency (ANSSI), held his traditional press conference on January 29, 2023 during the Lille International Cybersecurity Forum (FIC). He took the opportunity to present the main guidelines, issues and projects on which the French authority is positioning itself.

Four major themes were successively developed by the representative of the French authority: the growing number of ransomware attacks, the importance of cooperation with other state services, the Parisian cyber campus project and European sovereignty .

The CHU of Rouen is "a call to order"

"Compared to last year, ransomware and indirect attacks continue to grow. Overall, we're on an exponential curve "said the general manager. 69 ransomware attacks have been listed by the ANSSI with two emblematic cases: the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Rouen and M6.

"What was happening to United States a few years ago arrives in France today, but attackers sometimes forget that an American hospital does not have the same funds at all as a French hospital", reveals Guillaume Poupard. According to him, the case of Rouen is quite emblematic because it shows how"digital is important for these medical players, from mobile phones to imagery"and constitutes" un call to order". You should know that the ANSSI is already in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, but faced with this situation,"you have to go much faster"More generally, Guillaume Poupard recalls that espionage always remains"basic activity of computer attack".

Cooperate with other state services

"A few years ago, I preached the right word by saying that victims of cyber attacks should file a complaint, but I did not say it with much conviction. Today, that has changed"reveals Guillaume Poupard. Indeed, the judicialization of cases in this area is very recent. Previously, filing a complaint was considered an unnecessary step compared to the operational work to be done in the face of the offense committed."We realized that this helped the victims and no longer left cyber crimes unpunished, says he. We finally found the right balance between the technical work of ANSSI and the work of investigating justice".

The opening of a new branch of the French agency in Rennes, the city where the Cybersecurity Command (COMcyber) is located, shows this desire to create greater cooperation with other state services. "By 2025, the various protection, intelligence, military and investigation chains will have to work more and more closely together"says Guillaume Poupard. The ANSSI also works with the National Education and the Army on the national university service (SNU) which has a" digital security "module."This will make it possible to bring a message where young people are present to hear it. "

Creation of a cyber campus in the heart of the Capital

Guillaume Poupard also returned to one of the announcements made at FIC 2023: the creation of a cyber campus in the Parisian capital. This new place will bring together researchers, administrations, large groups, SMEs, start-ups and trainers. "Part of ANSSI"will also be present."This is a missing element in this national network where the common point is to make people work different together", he explains.

European sovereignty at the heart of projects

But for the Director General of ANSSI, all this is only viable if Europe is part of the equation. Like every year, he calls for great European cooperation without which France will be swallowed up by what he calls "the superpowers" as "Russia, the United States and the China".

He summarizes the situation in one sentence: "France needs Europe and Europe can count on France to develop its digital security and cybersecurity. "And this idea is already taking shape through European regulations with the" Cyber ​​Act "and the eIDAS regulation."Today, the first topic is 5G ", declares Guillaume Poupard. He took the opportunity to congratulate the work done by the European Commission and the member states.

"The toolbox made by the Commission with the States shows everything that can be done to count on a robust 5G, allowing economic development without delay even if all the components are not European", continues the director general. Finally, he concludes by recalling that it is the relationships between States, operators and equipment manufacturers that will allow"find the best possible balance ".