The Federal Council Cyber Committee recently adopted the 2018-2022 report on the progress made in implementing the national strategy for the protection of Switzerland against cyber-risks (NCS). The NCS specifies the strategic goals for protecting against cyber-risks and it covers the current implementation status of the plan. As of the first quarter of 2020, a third of the 247 milestones defined in the implementation plan have already been reached, and the rest will need to be completed by the end of 2022.

Concrete progress has been observed in various areas of action, as for example with the promotion of research and training reached though the opening of the Cyber Defence Campus (CYD Campus) at the two Federal Institutes of Technology, ETHZ and EPFL, as well as in Thun.

In its action plan, NCS also targeted specific groups such as small and medium-sized enterprises, which now will be able to receive dedicate cyber-risk support and can rely on a cyber-risk guide that has been prepared together with representatives from the business community.

Furthermore, the National Contact Point now receives cyber incident reports from the general public and businesses, analyses them and forwards them to the competent bodies, and those who submit reports are given recommendations on the action to be taken.

The Ordinance on Protecting against Cyber-Risks in the Federal Administration, which has been in force since 1 July 2020, creates the legal basis and governs cooperation both within the Federal Administration and with the cantons, businesses and academia.

SOURCE: www.admin.ch