Weekly Cybersecurity Digest [January, Week 4]
Posted on January 27, 2026
Dear Valued Clients,
Welcome to this week’s cybersecurity digest from Make Sense, your trusted partner in building measurable resilience across Europe’s rapidly evolving digital and financial ecosystems. The fourth week of January underscored how enforcement, market dynamics, and geopolitical considerations are now colliding rapidly. From record-breaking GDPR penalties and intensified scrutiny of AI-driven platforms to a renewed focus on supply‑chain sovereignty, Europe’s cyber posture is shifting decisively from policy intent to operational accountability.
Across sectors, the message is consistent: resilience is no longer theoretical. It must be demonstrated, auditable, and continuously maintained in the face of regulatory pressure and persistent threat activity.
✅ Top Stories of the Week
i. European Tech Sector Hit with €1.2 Billion in GDPR Fines in 2025
European data protection authorities collectively issued roughly €1.2 billion in GDPR fines in 2025, averaging 443 breach notifications per day – the highest since GDPR enforcement began. The Irish Data Protection Commission led in total fines, including a €530 million sanction, underscoring heightened enforcement across the EU and continued emphasis on data security. [Read more via TechCentral.ie]
ii. EU Opens Formal Digital Services Act Investigation into X’s AI Tool Grok
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act into Elon Musk’s platform X over risks associated with its AI tool, Grok. Regulators are probing whether systemic harms – including manipulated sexually explicit imagery and other serious content – were properly assessed and mitigated before deployment, signalling stricter EU oversight of AI-enabled social platforms. [Read more via Help Net Security]
iii. EU Unveils New Plans to Tackle Huawei, ZTE
The European Commission has proposed draft revisions to strengthen cybersecurity resilience by phasing out high-risk suppliers, such as Huawei and ZTE, from critical infrastructure and by tightening certification requirements under EU law. The measures aim to safeguard ICT supply chains and reduce reliance on non-EU vendors amid geopolitical and cyber threat concerns. [Read more via The Record]
Action prompt: Which critical systems or suppliers would be hardest to replace if forced to exit under new EU rules?
✅ Industry Trends & Insights
Europe’s Cybersecurity Market Set for Strong Growth Through 2031
The European cybersecurity market is forecast to expand robustly, rising from around USD 69.8 billion in 2026 to about USD 115.7 billion by 2031 – a CAGR of roughly 10.6%. This growth is driven by regulatory drivers (NIS2, DORA), rising geopolitical risk and a shift to sovereign cloud and managed services across industries. [Read more via Mordor Intelligence]
Dutch Job Market Highlights High-Demand Cybersecurity Skills in 2026
In the Netherlands, demand for specialised cybersecurity skills is surging as organisations prioritise cloud security, identity protection and incident response. Employers increasingly seek expertise in cloud identity management, access control and rapid incident containment. The trend reflects broader European industry needs for practical, technical talent to defend hybrid cloud environments and address evolving attack techniques. [Read more via Cyber Security District]
Reflect: Where do skills gaps pose the greatest operational risk within your security team?
SECASSURED: ASSIST Software Joins European Cybersecurity Consortium
ASSIST Software has joined SECASSURED, a new European research consortium under Horizon Europe focused on AI-enabled cybersecurity and assurance engineering. The project brings together partners from multiple EU countries to develop AI-powered security frameworks, continuous testing environments and certification-ready systems that enhance digital trust and resilience across critical sectors. [Read more via Romania Insider]
✅ Regulatory & Policy Updates
ECSO Welcomes EU Cybersecurity Act Revision to Boost ICT Supply-chain Security
The European Cybersecurity Organisation (ECSO) has published its response to the European Commission’s proposals to revise the Cybersecurity Act, backing efforts to treat cybersecurity as a strategic challenge and tostrengthen ICT supply-chain resilience. ECSO highlights harmonisation, simplification and coherence across EU rules, urging clearer certification pathways and stronger ENISA coordination to support scalable implementation. [Read more via ecs-org.eu]
NIS2 Enforcement Shifts from Framework to Active Oversight Across The EU
National authorities in the EU have moved NIS2 from a preparatory framework to active enforcement in 2026, testing organisations’ operational cybersecurity readiness. Regulators are auditing compliance with governance, incident reporting and risk-management obligations. Because enforcement timelines vary by member state, firms face uneven supervisory scrutiny and must accelerate NIS2 alignment to avoid sanctions. [Read more via DIAMATIX]
DETANGLE Project Supports EU Cybersecurity Regulations
The DETANGLE project, co-funded under Horizon Europe, has launched to help critical EU sectors such as energy, healthcare, and transport implement and comply with key EU cybersecurity regulations, including NIS2, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the Cybersecurity Act. The initiative aims to close regulatory gaps, strengthen supply-chain security and standardise compliance practices across the EU. [Read more via Innovation News Network]
Note: Which regulatory requirement – NIS2, CRA, or Cybersecurity Act – currently poses the greatest implementation challenge for your organisation, and where could external tooling or consortium support accelerate progress?
✅ Cyber IQ Challenge + Proactive Security Hacks
Quick Quiz:
What now most clearly defines cyber resilience under EU regulation?
A) Documented policies and annual audits
B) Demonstrable operational controls and evidence‑based assurance
C) Outsourced compliance reporting
D) Post‑incident remediation plans
Smart Security Moves of the Week:
- Map high‑risk suppliers against potential EU phase‑out scenarios.
- Establish AI risk registers aligned with DSA and AI Act expectations.
- Conduct NIS2 readiness checks focusing on incident‑response execution.
- Identify security skills gaps impacting cloud, identity, and supplier risk.
Answer: B) Demonstrable operational controls and evidence‑based assurance.
✅ Conclusion
From record GDPR enforcement and AI platform investigations to renewed focus on digital sovereignty and supply‑chain risk, this week highlights Europe’s shift from regulatory frameworks to real‑world accountability. Cyber resilience is now assessed by evidence, execution, and response speed – not intent. As oversight tightens, organisations must ensure controls are operational, auditable, and aligned with evolving EU expectations.
Final reflection: If regulators assessed your security posture today, could you prove resilience – not just claim it?
At Make Sense, we translate intelligence into measurable defence, helping organisations operationalise compliance, secure supply chains, and build resilience that stands up to scrutiny.
Stay secure,
The Make Sense SRL Team & CyberTania
