Cybersecurity is the foundation for economic prosperity
The Federal Council wants to create a Federal Office for Cyber Security. In doing so, it is taking account of the urgency of the issue. Because without cyber security, our economic prosperity is at risk. A guest article by Frank Thonüs, General Manager of Dell Technologies Switzerland.
Few issues are as pressing as cybersecurity, because citizens, governments and companies are more dependent than ever on digital networking. In this context, the Federal Council is placing special emphasis on the topic in terms of state policy and wants to establish a new Federal Office for Cybersecurity. This is a significant step for the Swiss economy, because in the future the new national strategy should not only focus on infrastructures, large companies and authorities, but also support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Attention to the latter is of particular importance, as SMEs account for around 70 % of Swiss companies. At the same time, they are the most vulnerable in terms of IT security.
With this holistic strategy, IT security becomes much more than just a hedging strategy against attacks and their consequences. Cyber resilience, when implemented effectively, can help drive long-term economic prosperity and innovation.
Cybersecurity support for SMEs
A high level of IT security is a decisive economic location factor. In Switzerland, too, cyberattacks are increasing rapidly: the Swiss National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) has received between 408 and 881 reports every week so far this year. In addition to fraud and phishing cases, hacker and ransomware attacks are the order of the day.
The topic of cybersecurity among SMEs deserves special attention: a 2021 Study on digitalization and cybersecurity in SMEs estimates that around 55,000 SMEs were the victims of a hacker attack last year. The most frequently cited incidents were via malware, viruses or Trojans.
Strengthening the private sector through the public sector
In terms of building a resilient economy, protecting SMEs in Switzerland is a huge economic priority. Professional support is needed both in detecting and preventing cyberattacks in advance and in responding quickly and recovering lost data when hackers do succeed despite all precautions. Even with strong defenses, it is impossible for organizations to avoid all cyberattacks and the resulting negative impact on data, privacy and trust. Then it's a matter of limiting the damage and returning to regular operations as quickly as possible.
The main goal should therefore be to develop a government-backed cyber resilience strategy that can anticipate significant disruptions and quickly repair damage in the worst case. An essential component of such resilience is thorough security training for all employees. This must also be a priority for the public sector in the months and years ahead.
What SMEs can do themselves
In addition to public and private training for employees, there are other strategic measures that SMEs can implement themselves. Since there is no 100 percent protection against attacks, companies should be prepared to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. For this, storage solutions are essential as a basis for backup and recovery as well as archiving. They allow short- to medium-term storage and - in the event of loss - recovery of data records. The main advantage is the relocation of business-critical data to an isolated environment that cannot be accessed by corporate network intruders.
In addition, software should take over the management of identities and their access rights in every company. Such solutions for "identity and access management" enable authorized persons to access applications and data securely and protect them from external attacks. They ensure that all persons and services are checked, authenticated and authorized, and that authorizations are granted in accordance with the company's guidelines.
Into the future with cyber security
Digital transformation not only brings benefits for economic growth. New technologies also offer new opportunities for criminals to attack both public and private infrastructures. That is why cybersecurity should be high on the list of priorities for the public sector and business.
A comprehensive security strategy, coordinated between governments and industry, is a key component of economic recovery after the crises of recent weeks and months.
If cyber resilience is well planned and coordinated across the national collective, it will make an important contribution to Switzerland's long-term prosperity.
Author:
Frank Thonüs is General Manager of Dell Technologies Switzerland.
