Governments should partner with private sector to fend off hybrid attacks, experts say

European companies are increasingly targeted by hybrid attacks ranging from cyberattacks and arson to drone surveillance. These businesses are vital to the daily functioning of nations, yet in most countries, government and business do not regularly exchange threat information, experts point out.

For instance, in April, Offshore Energies UK reported drone sightings near offshore energy structures. Drones have also been spotted over land-based facilities, including arms factories. In January, saboteurs cut power cables in Berlin, leaving 100,000 residents without electricity, heating, and internet for days. In June, Finnish prosecutors charged the captain of the ship Fitburg with aggravated sabotage after it damaged undersea cables on New Year's Eve.

Insurance broker Willis Towers Watson's recent risk survey found that 26% of European companies listed grey-zone attacks by Russia as a key concern. Of those, 65% feared infrastructure attacks, 61% economic coercion, and 56% state-sponsored cyberattacks.

Sweden has launched a "business council" comprising CEOs of key companies, the defense chief, and the head of the Civil Defence Agency. It serves as a national-security coordination hub between government and the private sector. "Sweden's defense capability is built on the strength of society as a whole," said Chief of Defence Gen. Michael Claesson. The council meets twice a year but can convene more often in crises.

Germany has also set up a center for defense against hybrid threats. While such measures cannot prevent all attacks, they are a vast improvement over having nothing, experts say. Companies directly facing these threats would likely be willing to join new initiatives if asked.