by Dean M. Valore

Luxembourg is a small country in the heart of Europe, bordered by Belgium, Germany and France. Its strategic location has made it a target for invasions and military conflict throughout history. In fact, Luxembourg has been invaded and occupied by foreign armies more times than any other European country. Its history of invasions dates back to the Roman Empire’s conquests of the region in the late first century BC. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Franks invaded the region in the 4th century AD, making it a part of their empire. After a succession of different empires ruled over the land, Luxembourg eventually became a grand duchy (e.g., a country ruled by a monarch) in the 15th century. It was during that time an impressive Fortress of Luxembourg was built to protect it from future invasions.

As history reveals, there has never been a walled city or fortification that has not been breached. Using Luxembourg as an example, this constant threat of invasion throughout its history has led to a unique approach to its national defense, one that is rooted in flexibility, adaptability, and resilience.

This same mindset can be applied to international cybersecurity laws.

Rather than erecting impenetrable walls, we must create laws that are adaptable to the changing landscape of cyber threats. Cybersecurity laws must be flexible enough to evolve with new technologies and threats. This requires a willingness to collaborate and share information across borders. Cybersecurity is a global issue, as cybercriminals operate across national boundaries. Therefore, international cooperation is key to combating cybercrime. The laws we create need to reflect this reality.

Another lesson we can learn from Luxembourg’s history is that despite its turbulent history, Luxembourg has managed to maintain its neutrality and independence. This was achieved through a combination of strategic diplomacy, a strong economy, and a skilled military.

In the same way, cybersecurity leaders need to encourage businesses and governments to build resilience in their operations. This requires investment in employee training in addition to proper technology and the development of response plans in the event of a cyberattack. By building resilience through strategic training, we can prevent and prepare for threats, mitigate the damage caused by cyberattacks and quickly recover from them.

The rise of cyberattacks and data breaches has made the need for a constant review of international cybersecurity laws more apparent than ever. Luxembourg’s nuanced perspective on invasions can provide useful insights into this issue. Cybersecurity is not a problem that can be solved by one country alone. It requires an international effort to share information, develop protocols, and establish guidelines to prevent future attacks.

As we have seen with NATO’s implementation of the cybersecurity pledge, the mindset of collaboration and sharing information is slowly being adopted by international bodies. Kuddos to the international coalition and to the American Councils for International Education Program and the U.S. Department of State for facilitating interactions like the International Visitor Leadership Program on Cybersecurity. It’s an important, positive step toward more robust and efficient collaboration to protect against the growing threat of cybercrime globally.

Luxembourg’s history teaches us valuable lessons about how to approach international cybersecurity laws. Policies must be adaptable, collaborative, promote resilience, and focus on protecting the most critical infrastructure. We cannot rely on walls to protect us against cyber threats, but instead, we need to develop laws that encourage sharing information and collaboration across borders. It is an ongoing process, but by learning from history and implementing the lessons, we can create a stronger, safer digital future for all.

Dean M. Valore gained extensive cybersecurity, white-collar investigation, and appellate experience as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and is recognized as one of the top attorneys in the nation. As a federal prosecutor, Dean attained a 100% conviction rate. He has also lectured internationally on criminal law. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Dean was a member of the elite Strikeforce Unit which focused on corporate malfeasance, public corruption, and organized crimes. In the national security unit, he led investigations and prosecutions related to domestic and international matters involving terrorist financing and money laundering and investigated and successfully prosecuted immigration fraud cases. His work included the highest profile cases in the U.S. Department of Justice, including international conspiracies.

Wegman Hessler Valore specializes in strategic legal solutions for business and government entities, applying legal discipline to solve business problems to help leaders run smarter. For over 50 years, this Cleveland law firm has provided full-service strategic legal counsel for closely held businesses, municipalities, corporations, and individuals. Practice areas include: business law; litigation; cybersecurity; corporate governance; estate planning and wealth protection; intellectual property; HR and employee matters; commercial real estate; business acquisition, and more. Get in touch to learn more. Visit wegmanlaw.com or call us at (216) 642-3342.

Copyright © Wegman Hessler Valore. This information is for educational purposes. It does not reflect an attorney-client relationship with the author(s) or the firm. This information should not be used as a substitute for professional legal advice in specific situations.https://wegmanlaw.com/attorneys/