MSB hosts international cybersecurity exercise in Sweden

Sweden has an ongoing international collaboration on information and cybersecurity issues on both a strategic and technical level. This collaboration is now supplemented with a technical simulation exercise. Nordic-U.S. Cybersecurity Exercise 2023 is the first exercise where the Nordic national CSIRTs (Computer Security Incident Response Teams) practice together with the U.S. counterpart.

The Swedish participants consists of technical personnel from CERT-SE. CERT-SE, operating at MSB, is Sweden's national CSIRT with the task of supporting society and its constituency in preventing and managing IT-incidents.

– It is important to participate in exercises with other countries because Sweden needs to cooperate internationally to protect our society's functionality in the event of cyber threats. As incidents are often cross borders, it is important to have good cooperation in order to handle the situation quickly and efficiently, says Andreas Rappe, head of the Operational Cybersecurity Section at MSB.

Need for cooperation on cybersecurity

The need to strengthen cooperation with other countries in cybersecurity has gradually increased over the past few years. A small incident can have major consequences and quickly spread across national borders. This also holds true in regards to the current security situation with a war in Europe, where cyber warfare has been a part of the battlefield. The aim is that the exercise will lead to an increased common understanding of incident management of cross-border cyber-related events as well as serve as a basis for continued cooperation.

– By participating in exercises together with other countries, we strengthen our society's ability to prevent, respond to and manage cyber-related incidents. The fact that MSB and FOI together continue to develop forms of cooperation in cyber security also contributes to strengthening Sweden's total defence, says Åke Holmgren, director of Cybersecurity and Secure Communications Department at MSB.

The Nordic-U.S. Cybersecurity Exercise 2023 takes place in Sweden over the course of a few days. There will be no opportunity to visit the exercise. Interview requests about the exercise are to be sent to MSB's press service.