Cyber Risks: Confederation defines seven targets
With the national strategy for protecting Switzerland against cyber risks 2018-2022, the Federal Council is taking account of the increased importance of cyber risks. The strategy shows how the Confederation, together with the economy, the cantons and the universities, intends to counter cyber risks and which measures are to be implemented to this end over the next five years.
Cyber risks characterize everyday life today. In recent times, broad-based waves of attacks that caused major damage worldwide have caused a stir, as have targeted and often politically motivated attacks on state infrastructures for the purpose of espionage or sabotage.
Strategic goals
With the newly developed Strategy for the Protection of Switzerland against Cyber Risks (NCS), the Federal Council has for the years 2018-2022 seven goals defined:
- Switzerland has the competencies, knowledge and skills to identify and assess cyber risks at an early stage.
- Switzerland develops effective measures to reduce cyber risks and implements them in the context of prevention.
- In all situations, Switzerland has the necessary capacities and organizational structures to quickly identify cyber incidents and to deal with them even if they last for a long time and affect different areas at the same time.
- Switzerland is resilient to cyber risks. The ability of critical infrastructures to provide important services and goods remains guaranteed even in the event of major cyber incidents.
- The protection of Switzerland against cyber risks is perceived as a joint task of society, business and the state, with responsibilities and competencies clearly defined and lived by all parties involved.
- Switzerland is committed to international cooperation to enhance cyber security. It promotes dialogue on cyber foreign and security policy, participates actively in international expert bodies and maintains exchanges with other countries and international organizations.
- Switzerland learns from cyber incidents at home and abroad. Cyber incidents are carefully analyzed and appropriate measures are taken based on the findings.
The strategy now includes a field of action on standardization and regulation, through which the Confederation is mandated to develop minimum standards for cyber security in cooperation with the private sector and to examine the introduction of reporting obligations for cyber incidents.
Implementation planning in progress
To ensure that the Confederation can implement the measures specified by the strategy as quickly and effectively as possible, it is currently reviewing its structures in the area of cyber risks, according to the statement. Based on this review, the Confederation will develop the implementation plan for the NCS together with the cantons, the economy and the universities. This plan will specify who is responsible for which measures, which resources will be used and by when which steps should be completed.
Covenant source
Click here for the "old" strategy 2012-2017
