The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of a temporary situation when critical infrastructure (CI) operators had to operate with continuously changing conditions. The role of cyber infrastructure during pandemics, for example for the remote work or access to critical systems, has also changed.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of IoT-Edge-Cloud continuum (IECC), effective management of computational tasks offloaded from mobile devices to edge nodes is crucial.

The term ‘Dynamic Heterogeneous Computing Sphere’ is used to describe a computing paradigm that is heterogeneous, volatile and highly dynamic.

This is the second document of a series of three defining a reference architecture for the continuum. In the previous one, different building blocks were identified setting the path for the different aspects to be taken into account while defining the architecture.

This is the last document of a series of 3 for designing a Reference Architecture for the continuum. The first document of the series presented an initial version of a common taxonomy, considering it as a unified language for all actors of the value chain.

This perspective paper introduces a novel framework for container orchestration called CODECO.

"Risk and resilience are interconnected concepts. In fact, one of our goals in SUNRISE is to integrate resilience metrics with risk metrics.

The CROSSCON is a research project that targets developing research ideas into practical techniques and supporting prototypes, and the level of ambition is to validate results in lab conditions that are representative of a complex IoT system (i.e., technology readiness levels TRL 4 and TRL5).

Cloud and edge computing are essential technologies in a computing continuum to ensure data is managed more efficiently – closer to the originating source rather than transmitting raw data to data centres. As recent studies suggest, data processing is moving closer to the edge.

The fact than more and more Cyber-Physical or IoT systems are integrated in vehicle fleets, coupled with the growing connectivity of these devices, poses a higher risk of cyber attacks, due to the increased attack surface.

Cybersecurity ecosystem in EU is a hot topic, as it relates to the recent establishment of the EU Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC), the Network of National Coordination Centres (NCCs) and the Cybersecurity Community (CC).

With the increased digitalization and adoption of cost-effective off-the-shelf components and cyber connectivity, Critical Infrastructures (CI) operators have benefited in many ways, but the attack surface has also become larger.

Complex applications, which include microservices, computationally intensive batch jobs, and sophisticated interaction with the external environment, demand for heterogeneous computational infrastructures that range from cloud to HPC and edge computing.

There is an urgent need for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, and at the same time there is an awareness gap and lack of integrated training modules on cybersecurity related aspects on all school levels.