The Norwegian government has allocated one billion for artificial intelligence. This is not enough, according to Høyre, which wants the Minister of Trade and Industry to act.
Linda Hofstad Helleland (H) believes that the government does not take security threats to the business seriously. Photo: Naina Helén Jåma / VG / NTPublished: Published:
November 1
Copy linkCopy linkShare on FacebookShare on FacebookShare by emailShare by email
Norwegian public institutions and businesses face an increasingly large cyber threat.
A couple of weeks ago, the National Security Authority published a report, revealing several security vulnerabilities in Norwegian infrastructure.
Last week, the CEO of one of Norway’s largest consulting firms, Rune Skjelvan at KPMG, told E24 that he is worried about Norwegian businesses, and fears that small actors do not have the resources to keep up with the rapid development.
“I am genuinely concerned about the difficult situation Norwegian top executives are in. At KPMG, we have never before spent so much of our time on security and emergency preparedness work for our customers,” said Skjelvan.
Read on E24+
Consultant top on cyber attacks: – I am genuinely concerned
KPMG now has a group of about 100 people working on security, emergency preparedness, and crisis management, and the department is growing continuously.
Now, Høyre’s Linda Hofstad Helleland is targeting Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre, claiming that the government does not take cyber security seriously.
KPMG CEO Rune Skjelvan says they are using more resources to assist companies in cyber security and preparedness. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
Threatens society
– I share the concern of the KPMG CEO that Norwegian businesses are not well enough protected. I am also afraid that too many companies are too vulnerable, and that it is too easy to attack,” says Helleland.
Before the summer, Høyre presented a proposal to the Parliament, asking the government to implement 18 measures related to digital security and competence development. All the proposals were voted down.
Helleland points out that the society’s infrastructure now means that security breaches that previously only had consequences for individual businesses could now pose a threat to the rest of society as well.
Small and medium-sized businesses are not primarily covered by the security law. The security law primarily applies to state, county, and municipal entities and to suppliers of goods or services in connection with classified acquisitions. The law is intended to contribute to securing national security interests by preventing, detecting, and countering security-threatening activities. Therefore, Helleland now wants greater coordination.
– Often, the perpetrators have been criminal networks with profit as their goal. But now, we are also facing foreign powers trying to identify weaknesses, and this can have consequences for us as a society,” she says.
NSM’s report on digital risk landscape 2023
It was recently revealed that several Norwegian companies have been affected by a serious cyber attack. NSM says to DN that they are managing a threat situation that contains so-called zero-day vulnerabilities.
In a report, NSM writes that they have identified several security vulnerabilities in Norwegian infrastructure.
They have also detected advanced hacker tools that can paralyze control systems in critical facilities such as power plants, oil platforms, and other energy production. And they believe the number of advanced cyber attacks against Norway is increasing.
They list the following main points in their report:
NSM expects that the development in artificial intelligence and large language models will lead to further professionalization among attackers. Cyber operations can gain increased physical impact as industrial systems are increasingly connected to the internet. Increased cyber security makes other methods for accessing information more attractive. The insider risk may increase with a unilateral focus on cyber security. It is crucial to think about security in all domains. Show more
Read on E24+
McKinsey CEO: – Has changed the way we recruit
– Behind
The whole world is now in a steep economic decline, and Helleland believes that NSM’s report shows that the authorities do not do enough for businesses.
– I call for a Minister of Trade and Industry who takes it very seriously, but so far, there has been complete silence from Vestre. It is remarkable.
– But this is about security, and then it will fall under the responsibility of the Minister of Justice, won’t it?
– The Ministry of Justice has the tools, but the Minister of Trade and Industry has the best contact with the business sector and should not let the security situation of the companies be solely a matter for the Ministry of Justice. For small and medium-sized enterprises, there are security challenges every day that the Minister of Trade and Industry must take seriously. The government is trailing behind.
Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre (Ap). Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
Read on E24+
EY director against the Working Environment Act: – Can’t have American conditions in Norway
Also read
Allocates one billion for research on artificial intelligence
– They have put a billion on the table for a focus on artificial intelligence, where security should be one of the pillars, is that not enough?
– It is over five years, where in 2024 they are to spend 150 million on AI in general and this is primarily an internal shift of money. And it is also to be used for many other things. It remains to be seen to what extent it will be used for security.
– What specifically do you envision?
– I want a partnership model where companies sit down with the authorities and discuss how to become more resilient, but also how the private sector can help strengthen overall preparedness in Norway.
Read on E24+
Lands gig contract – promises not to engage in PR
Read on E24+
Spends millions to recruit top executives
Wants Vestre to the Parliament
The government allocated 200 million last year for increased digital security, in addition to the proposal to allocate one billion for research in the state budget.
However, Helleland says that this does not meet the needs of the businesses, and tells that Høyre now wants to establish a dialogue with the business sector.
– Høyre will invite small and medium-sized businesses to a meeting about cyber attacks and security challenges. What do they want from the authorities? What is best for helping them in their work?
– What are you doing to get this on the political agenda?
– Will invite the Minister of Trade and Industry to the Parliament to inform about how he works with cyber security for private companies specifically. We want to hear what has been done and what the plan is going forward,” she says.
Read on E24+
