The Swiss Federal Council has decided to convert the National Center for Cyber Security (NCSC) into a federal office. With the increasing importance of cyber security, the tasks of the NCSC are also becoming more extensive and important. Switzerland is thus responding to global developments.
Cyber security has become increasingly important at all levels in recent years. The Federal Council laid an important foundation stone back in 2019 with the creation of the NCSC, which is based in the General Secretariat of the FDF. Since then, the NCSC has come a long way. In addition to the expansion of the technical department, the GovCERT, a contact point for reports of cyber incidents from the population and business has been set up and a vulnerability management system has been established. With around 40 employees, the NCSC performs core tasks in protecting Switzerland from cyber threats. It supports operators of critical infrastructures in preventing and dealing with incidents, operates the national contact point for questions about cyber security for the population and business and is intended by the Federal Council as the central reporting point when introducing the obligation to report cyber attacks.
Growing importance of cybersecurity
With the increasing importance of cyber security, the tasks of the NCSC are also becoming more extensive and important. The Federal Council has therefore examined how the NCSC can be run as an independent organization in future. He analyzed various options such as outsourcing the NCSC from the central federal administration, joint operation with the cantons or transforming the NCSC into a public-private partnership. It came to the conclusion that cyber security, as an important task of state policy, should continue to be managed directly by a Federal Councilor. He also wants to strengthen the NCSC and use it to create a Federal Office for Cyber Security.
Decision on design and assignment by the end of 2022
With the fundamental decision for a federal office, the Federal Council commissioned the FDF to work out by the end of 2022 how the future federal office should be structured and to develop proposals in which department it will be located. The Federal Council will then make the appropriate decisions on this basis.
More at the Swiss Federal Council