Safety Network Exercise: Initial Findings
What happens if the power fails in Switzerland for several days and a severe pandemic rages at the same time? How do the federal government, the cantons and the army respond to such a crisis? These were the questions addressed by the 2014 Security Network Exercise (SVU14).
"Our society has become more vulnerable" -SVU Director Toni Frisch.
At the 8th Swiss Police Informatics Congress (SPIK) in Bern, SVU head Toni Frisch presented the first findings from the exercise conducted in November. The scenario was a three-month power shortage with a 48-hour complete blackout. In addition, a severe influenza pandemic was rampant. This was the first nationwide crisis management exercise in 17 years: In addition to the federal government, all cantons and some cities, operators of critical infrastructures such as railroad and power grids and the army also took part.
On the whole, the Swiss Security Network exercise can be described as very positive, Frisch summarized in his presentation: "The cooperation of all participants was very constructive and committed. Weaknesses at various levels were identified and measures for future improvement were developed."
Most important, however, is the realization of how vulnerable our society is today, Frisch noted. Because we are used to everything working, we lose our ability to innovate in crisis situations. In addition, he said, we have become much more dependent on electricity in recent years. "We strongly hope that we can sensitize the population with our results without dramatizing."
Good advice - stock
The duration of the crisis, which lasted several months, proved particularly problematic. Due to the breakdown of means of transport and absences due to illness, there was a shortage of personnel everywhere - including in the security organizations. Furthermore, communication would be massively restricted. It is not easy to imagine such a situation, Frisch emphasizes. "The complexity of the situation only becomes clear when you consider the many small things that would no longer function without electricity. This required a high degree of imagination on the part of all exercise participants."
The exercise manager cited the supply of food to the population as a particularly critical point. At a time when hardly anyone stores emergency supplies, he said, supply shortages can quickly have serious consequences. "We clearly need to improve on this point," Frisch said.
Around 600 representatives from the police and business, IT experts from various sectors and participants from politics attended the 8th SPIK on March 26. The annual event is the national platform for the exchange of experience on the topics of police IT and combating cybercrime. In addition to presentations in seven symposia, participants were able to see for themselves the practical benefits of the solutions presented at over 30 exhibition booths.
Photo: Claudio Protopapa, Kapo Bern
