Nordic
states to develop common cybersecurity strategy
Jan 17, 05:47 PM
Norwegian politician Jorodd Asphjell, left, the new president of the Nordic Council for 2023, is seen during a session of the organization in Helsinki, Finland, on Nov. 3, 2022. (Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
HELSINKI
— Norway is taking the lead to develop a defense-focused common cybersecurity strategy for the
Nordic region.
The
multinational agreement to develop the strategy followed a meeting of the
Nordic Council’s executive committee in December. The council functions as the
official organization for formal interparliamentary cooperation between the
Nordic states. Formed in 1952, it includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway,
Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the Åland Islands.
Norway
currently holds the 12-month rotating presidency of the Nordic Council for
2023, having taken over from Finland in December.
The
council outsourced the cybersecurity development project to the Nordic Defense
Cooperation group, which consists of Denmark, Finalnd, Iceland, Norway and
Sweden. The effort will serve as part of NORDEFCO’s Vision 2025 initiative.
In
the long term, the military-influenced strategy is to enhance intelligence
sharing between countries, giving the Nordic nations a heightened capacity to
defend against threats emanating from the cyber domain.
“Cybersecurity
issues are more relevant than ever. In recent years, the number of serious
cyberattacks has grown. Additionally, the war in Ukraine has a direct effect on
the Nordic region on many different levels. All these factors serve the need to
have a common Nordic cybersecurity strategy,” said Erkki Tuomioja, the Nordic
Council’s president for 2022.
The
Nordic states have explored the potential for a common cybersecurity strategy
since 2016. But Russia’s war in Ukraine and the potential resulting destabalization of
the High North and Baltic Sea regions drove a sharper focus on collaboration.
NORDEFCO’s
Vision 2025 initiative will now accommodate this new mission to develop a
cybersecurity framework that strengthens Nordic resilience against
cyberthreats. NORDEFCO will liaise with military cyberthreat units and national
cybersecurity agencies across Nordic nations.
Individually,
Nordic states continue to bolster their cyber capacities and make capital
investments in new projects. Sweden is investing an additional $130 million in
its military budget for 2023-2024 to bolster cyber capabilities. And Finland’s
cybersecurity budget during the same period is being doubled to $80 million.
For
its part, Iceland launched a national cybersecurity development strategy in
2022 that will run to 2037. The initiative will include joint exercises with
Nordic partners to test defensive and offensive cyberthreat solutions.
“Cybersecurity
isn’t just a security issue. We also need it to fully harness the power of
Nordic innovation. We need greater awareness, expertise and regulations
covering cybersecurity to enable us to future-proof our society,” said Áslaug
Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Iceland’s minister of higher education, science and
innovation.
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