Sweden tightens cyber security measures

Sweden is stepping up its cyber security defences as part of a wider national security strategy. Sweden’s government and national security leaders are pursuing a more aggressive, capital-intensive programme to scale-up spending and strengthen the country’s long-term capacity to defend itself against potentially damaging cyber attacks. This approach to national security was outlined in Sweden’s recent defence commission’s report to the cabinet in December 2017. The report, Resilience, the total defence concept and the development of civil defence in 2021-2025, is based on analysis compiled by the Swedish Armed Forces (AFC) and national security intelligence agencies. The report provides a forward-looking blueprint to shape future national security policy. Sweden says it will more deeply collaboration between core branches of government, the armed forces and civil defence to ensure its national security policy is achievable. Additionally, Sweden plans to increase expenditure on its signals intelligence and cyber domain defence capabilities by 10 per cent to SEK5 billion (€510 million) in 2018. Björn von Sydow, Sweden Defence Commission’s chairman, said: “Sweden’s long-term approach is to develop a ‘total defence’ capability against external threats to the country’s national security that also protects our economy and critical infrastructure. “Our next major task will be to deliver a comprehensive assessment of the regional and global security situation. This will include an appraisal of cyber threats facing Sweden and what action should be taken.”