Madrid Invests 15 Million Euro in Cybersecurity for Public Online Services
The Community of Madrid, in Spain, has announced a significant investment of €340.1 million to modernize and secure its digital services and enhance its technological defense policies, in order to avoid potential cyberattacks against the public net infrastructure, essential for citizens to complete administrative processes.
This initiative, led by the Madrid Digital Agency under the Ministry of Digitalisation, aims to advance the region’s digital transformation by improving telematic applications, introducing innovative solutions like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation, and optimizing citizen interactions with public services.
Key projects include the Digital Account, Digital Justice, and Single Social History platforms, alongside plans for a new data processing center, improved connectivity in public schools, and modernized courtrooms.
A notable portion of this investment, €15.2 million over two years, has been earmarked to bolster the cybersecurity of Madrid Digital’s services. This funding will enhance the agency’s capabilities in prevention, detection, and response to increasingly complex cyber threats. The focus includes strengthening existing IT architectures and implementing new ones to ensure robust security measures.
Of this allocation, 90% (€13.8 million) will be directed toward the Madrid Digital Cybersecurity Operations Centre (SOC), established in 2019. The SOC plays a critical role in monitoring regional systems and implementing proactive defense strategies against cyberattacks.
Its responsibilities include risk identification, vulnerability analysis, and providing support for effective incident response. New initiatives within the SOC include integrating the technological infrastructure of the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS) and the EducaMadrid platform into its operations.
Secure Digital Environment
Complementing Madrid Digital’s cybersecurity strategy is the Cybersecurity Agency of the Community of Madrid, which oversees public policies in this domain across the region. With a dedicated budget of €3 million for 2025, the agency will focus on creating a secure digital environment through initiatives such as:
- A Digital Surveillance Service to anticipate and manage threats at the municipal level.
- An Incident Response Team to ensure rapid detection and mitigation of cyberattacks.
- An Information Security Committee tasked with setting policies and procedures for risk identification and system protection.
These measures are particularly vital for smaller municipalities that lack resources to address cybersecurity challenges independently.
The €15.2 million investment underscores Madrid’s commitment to strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure amid rising global cyber threats, that tend to target public administrations as much as private companies, with a destructive potential for citizens private data and public money holdings.
