A Digital Cooperation Organisation report on cyber incident rules, a Plug and Play Cyprus interview on startups, and two CySEC circulars on sustainability claims and ownership reporting are covered.
Nicosia, Cyprus. A new Digital Cooperation Organisation report says Cyprus must make sure its institutions can respond effectively as artificial intelligence speeds up cyber threats, while the head of Plug and Play Cyprus has outlined what local startups need in order to grow internationally. Separately, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission has issued two circulars to financial firms.
Cyber incident reporting under scrutiny
According to the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), Cyprus already operates a fairly demanding system for reporting cyber incidents. It requires an early warning within 6 hours and a fuller notification within 72 hours.
The findings are in the September 2026 edition of DCO Policy Watch, titled ‘Resilience at Machine Speed: National Cyber Defense in the Age of AI‘. The publication looks at how governments can reinforce their defences against ever more automated attacks and get ready for an eventual move to quantum-resistant cryptography.
The report lists Cyprus among the jurisdictions that have a defined incident-reporting interval in force. It notes that the requirements under Article 35B set a shorter initial reporting window than the default in the European Union’s NIS2 Directive.
The report also warns that a deadline alone does not mean a country can respond well. In its assessment, the resources, staffing and operational capabilities behind the rules determine their real value.
For Cyprus, the report concludes that current reporting obligations should sit within a comprehensive national strategy. That strategy would link early warnings to effective incident response, investment in defensive artificial intelligence and preparation for future cryptographic risks.
Startups urged to look abroad
Cyprus has the potential to become a regional innovation hub. Turning that ambition into globally successful companies will require startups to look beyond the domestic market, build stronger corporate partnerships and gain easier access to international customers and investors.
In an exclusive interview with the Cyprus Mail, Plug and Play Cyprus director Filippos Kyprianou described how the global innovation platform links Cypriot founders with more than 600 corporations across over 60 locations. He said it also helps them acquire the commercial skills needed to scale internationally.
He also discussed the part played by local corporate partners, the challenges startups face, and what success should look like over the next five years.
CySEC issues circulars on sustainability and ownership data
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has called on financial firms and investment managers to follow new European guidance on sustainability claims. It also asked them to prepare for standardised reporting of company ownership information. The aim is to improve transparency and consistency across financial markets.
The regulator set out its message in two circulars issued this week. One draws attention to guidance from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on sustainability-related claims. The other covers a new European Union regulation that sets common formats for reporting beneficial ownership information.
