The present efforts to combat cyber risks are currently being addressed by the Swiss Federal Council, who has approved the National Cyber Strategy (NCS) on 27 June 2012. The strategic aim of the strategy is threefold: early warning of cyber threats and risks; increased resilience within critical infrastructures; overall reduction of cyber risks. Through the increased use of the internet and mobile networks, the number of cyber attacks has also increased exponentially and has touched on all facets of society. It has become a reality that each conflict, which occurs in either the political, economic or military sphere has today also a cyber component. These cyber attacks range from minor hacker attacks, to cyber crime and cyber espionage, as well as cyber war. Cyber crime in one form or the other has become a daily reality and poses a clear and present danger. Thus, the NCS has defined 16 concrete measures in order to address cyber threats. These range from the creation of risk and vulnerability analysis, to a solid situation analysis, to continuity and crisis management. The designated federal agencies should implement these measures within the context of their existing mandate by the end of 2017. Partners from authorities, the private sector and society are to be integrated into this implementation process.

About the speaker

Dr. Stefanie Frey

Dr. Stefanie Frey has a PhD from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. She worked on several projects on defence and security policy, war-related topics, current affairs, as well as early warning and crisis management. She is currently working on Cyber Risk and Defence at the Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (MELANI) at the Federal Department of Finance FDF.
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