The head of the National Cyber Security Center visited the Data Council

Cyber security Data Council
On Thursday, there was a high level of activity in Almegahuset where TechSverige's Data Council met with the Swedish Telecom Association for a well-attended meeting. One of the highlights of the program was a visit from Therese Naess who talked about her newly appointed role as head of the National Cyber Security Center.

- It is a challenge. There is the right expertise in the Swedish authorities, but there is too little of it. We are now reviewing the resources in the field of cybersecurity," said Therese Naess during her speech.

FRA, the Swedish Armed Forces, MSB and the Swedish Security Service have set up the center on behalf of the government. The work is done in close collaboration with PTS, the Police Authority and FMV. The center will co-locate parts of cyber security activities. Therese Naess has previously worked for the Swedish Security Service (Säpo) and the Swedish Migration Agency and has gained extensive experience of combating security threats in society.

- "My ambition and that of the center is that we will be able to develop our activities in a way that is rewarding for all of us. The question is always how we should use Sweden's collective cyber security expertise to protect what is most worth protecting in Sweden," said Therese Naess, who also highlighted the importance of a dialog with various ministries as well as with industry representatives and companies.

One important task is to create a common situational picture in the field of cybersecurity. An evaluation of the first "pilot period" will hopefully provide a lot of experience and input, as well as clarify some issues for future work. There is inspiration to be drawn from the United Kingdom, for example, on how to collaborate with the business community. Information and cyber security is included in the Tech Agenda launched by TechSverige earlier this year. It highlights the center and better collaboration between the state and the business community.

- We are a collaborative platform and have no formal structure. When we need to procure something, it is done under the umbrella of one of the constituent authorities. For someone who is used to pointing with his whole hand and saying "follow me", it is sometimes frustrating. Things move slowly, so we need to create an understanding that we are working to get around it and speed things up, but it's a challenge we have to live with.

The chairman of the Data Council, Mikael Eklund, found it very interesting to listen to Therese Naess:

- I think the biggest thing is that she has a very challenging mission. She has been given the task of leading and steering, but she has not been given a steering wheel. Given the way the Swedish government structure looks, I think she will have to get a steering wheel eventually. I do not know what it will look like. I think the idea of an authority over time suits the Swedish administrative model, but that is just a guess.

In the picture above, from left to right, are Data Council Chairman Mikael Eklund, Therese Naess, Telecom Council Chairman Josefine Jonsson and Fredrik Sand, industry policy expert at TechSverige.