When the Trump Wind Blows – How U.S. Politics Impacts Our IT/OT Security in Europe

Love him or hate him – Donald Trump is back on the political stage, and with him comes a gust (or rather, a storm) from across the Atlantic. But what does that mean for IT and OT security here in Europe? Are we just sitting back with our coffee, watching from a distance, or is it time to raise the firewalls and double down on securing our networks? 

Welcome to a not-so-dry deep dive into the political winds from overseas – and their impact on our digital infrastructure. 

Trump 2.0: America First, Security Second? 

With "America First" back on the agenda, Trump is steering a nationalist course – something that’s already caused waves in the global tech world before. International cooperation? Optional. Data agreements? Subject to political mood swings. If you work in IT or OT security, now’s not just the time to watch for the next vulnerabilities, but also to keep a close eye on how Trump’s policies might shake up international relationships. 

Data Protection Under Pressure 

One major topic: transatlantic data flow. From a European perspective, the U.S. isn’t considered a “safe third country” under GDPR – and under Trump, confidence in U.S. data privacy standards likely won’t improve. Add to that the recent waves of layoffs in U.S. government agencies, and suddenly key data agreements between the EU and U.S. are hanging by a thread – simply because the people responsible have left. 

  • Cloud services hosted in the U.S. may become even riskier from a legal standpoint.
  • GDPR compliance is about to get even more complicated.
  • Data sovereignty is becoming more important than ever.

Impact on Cybersecurity Standards 

Trump’s no fan of multilateral standards – cybersecurity included. If U.S. agencies start changing their security requirements or cutting back on international collaboration, Europe will need to step up and operate more independently. A perfect example? When funding for the U.S. National Vulnerability Database (NVD) was briefly pulled – a move that sent shockwaves through the global cybersecurity community. Coincidentally (or maybe not), that same day marked the launch of Europe’s own vulnerability database. 

What Does This Mean for IT/OT Security in Europe? 

Here are some tangible impacts: 

  • More responsibility for European companies: OT systems (like those used in manufacturing or rail operations) can no longer rely solely on U.S. tech. European alternatives need to be evaluated – and possibly adopted.
  • Specialized training is gaining importance: To keep up in this fast-moving environment, companies need well-trained employees. And no, that awareness webinar from 2019 doesn’t cut it anymore.

Conclusion: We’ve Got This – Even When It’s Stormy Outside! 

Whether Trump is tanking trade deals, enforcing new export restrictions on tech, or just stirring up global uncertainty – European IT and OT security must become more resilient. Industries that rely on stable, secure infrastructure can’t afford to count on political calm. 

What helps? Knowledge, technology, and clear processes. 

👉 That’s where we come in. We offer hands-on training, expert consulting in IT and OT security, and tailored solutions. Whether it's firewall setup, incident response, or network segmentation in rail control systems – we bring know-how and humor to help you stay on course, even when the Trump wind hits.

Drop us a message. Or send smoke signals. Just… maybe skip the unencrypted emails 😉.

#ITSecurity #OTSecurity #TrumpEffect #CybersecurityEurope #CriticalInfrastructure #RailwaySystems #ZeroTrust #SCADA #ICS #DataSecurity #Trainings #Consulting #MadeInEurope #DigitalResilience 

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