Experts call for better digital defense of Norway
Norway is facing an increasing threat in the digital space. Much of the country's infrastructure is currently owned by private entities and is entirely dependent on functioning digital systems. This makes society vulnerable to attacks that could paralyze everything from power supplies to communications.
Experiences from the war in Ukraine show that digital attacks are often an integrated part of modern warfare. Ukrainian authorities are now advising their allies to establish permanent crisis bodies responsible for coordinating digital defense across various sectors.
The challenge in Norway is that responsibility for digital security is currently spread among many different actors and sectors. When systems are privately owned, it becomes complicated to determine who holds the overall responsibility for protecting them when a crisis occurs.
Experts point out that there is a need for a more unified strategy to ensure that Norway is equipped against digital threats. The discussion on how we can best organize this work is becoming increasingly important at a time when the security policy situation in Europe is tense.
It is currently unclear how Norwegian authorities will follow up on the advice regarding a more centralized crisis body. Regardless, the goal is to create a safer digital everyday life where critical societal functions are better protected against sabotage and attacks from foreign powers.