The Industry Comments on the Defence Commission's Interim Report

SOFF states that they welcome the Defence Commission's proposals for new investments in cybersecurity and that the policy prioritises cooperation and industry. 

The interim report "Kraftsamling" highlights three points to ensure Sweden's cybersecurity robustness;

1)  To ensure robustness in digital infrastructure, coordination of information and cybersecurity is required. 

2)  Cooperation between authorities and industry is particularly emphasised, with NCSC seen as the key to strengthened collaboration. 

3)  Considering antagonistic cyber activities as a normal state requires continuous measures. The Defence Commission underscores the need to engage the IT sector's expertise in total defence during heightened readiness and war. 

– We view positively that the Defence Commission advocates clearer requirements, better follow-up, and considers whether responsibility for cybersecurity should be organised as a separate authority, says Ronja Ahlberg, area manager for cyber defence at SOFF. 

SOFF sees collaboration as a fundamental and crucial component to meet the complex challenges within cybersecurity and digitalisation. 

– The development of strong partnerships between public and private sectors is necessary to ensure a robust and effective cybersecurity structure. SOFF sees the potential in engaging the IT sector's expertise as a positive influence on the work with skills provision, which strengthens Sweden's ability to meet and handle cyber threats effectively, concludes Ronja. 

The interim report states that civil defence must develop a higher collective total defence capability in the near term. Increased pace is needed, and the awareness of this must permeate the entire society and drive the development of total defence forward.

What does the commission propose?

1) Clear command and control relationships in civil defence. To achieve the greatest possible defence effect, the Defence Commission proposes several measures to enable clear direction, planning, and coordination of society's resources.

2) Transform MSB into an authority to support the government's coordination of civil defence. The Defence Commission proposes that MSB be transformed into an authority to support the government's coordination of civil defence, including responsibility for the new sector for planning, command capability, and coordination within civil defence, work on developing economic defence, and peacetime crisis preparedness.

3) Re-establish a new economic defence. The Defence Commission states that total defence capability is directly linked to a functioning societal economy and proposes http://b.la/ introducing new preparedness sectors (foreign trade, supply of industrial goods, and labour supply) and re-establishing a system for war-critical companies.

4) An economic planning framework for civil defence. The Defence Commission proposes that long-term goals and economic frameworks be established for each defence decision and that funding for investments and maintenance be consolidated into one or a few appropriations.

– We view very positively that cooperation with companies whose operations are significant for total defence will be strengthened and formalised, says Lina Bonander, area manager for societal security and civil defence at SOFF.

Regarding military defence, the commission writes that civil defence should provide defence companies with the conditions to supply the military defence. 

 Among other things, three points are highlighted;

1) Defence companies in Sweden are a national asset.