From Espionage to Sabotage: Sweden's Battle Against Insider Risks

High-profile cases heightened tensions, and growing awareness are making insider risk a prominent topic within Sweden. The country is grappling with a rapid increase in cases, with organisations yet to achieve defined structures and a comprehensive understanding of insider risk to effectively address it. Throughout this article, we will look at why Sweden is experiencing heightened pressures, what areas of Sweden’s economic and political structures are most deeply affected, and what Swedish organisations can do to strengthen their resilience against this emerging threat.?

Why is Sweden’s exposure to insider risk on the rise?

1. Geopolitical tensions

Historically neutral, Sweden’s geopolitical stance has shifted dramatically following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, heightening security concerns across Northern Europe. Sweden’s admission and integration within NATO has positioned the country as an economic, military, political and ideological adversary of Russia, for example. Sweden’s intelligence chief predicts that the admission will be met with increased intelligence activities carried out by such adversaries, aimed at obtaining sensitive information, influencing operations, and sabotaging critical infrastructure. Insiders will become a crucial tool leveraged by foreign adversaries to damage Sweden’s resilience and preparedness.?

2. Technological advancement

Sweden is also a global hub for scientific research and technological developments. Social stability, access to governmental support and high degrees of opportunity have created the necessary environment for innovation. More than 3% of Sweden’s GDP is invested in research & development. This has resulted in the country ranking as an innovative leader within the European Union, second only to Denmark. Critically, Sweden is a leader in green technology and life sciences, areas increasingly defined by competition and central to national economic development. Sweden is thus an attractive target for nation-states and competitors seeking to develop similar technologies for a fraction of the time and price. Insiders, thanks to their privileged and legitimate access to knowledge, are key enablers. Whilst organisations in Sweden are leading in critical technological sectors, their assets, people, and reputation are vulnerable without a structured and comprehensive insider risk mitigation strategy.?

3. Growing criminality

Sweden has emerged as the country suffering the highest rate of criminal offences within Northern Europe. Sweden faces a deeper challenge than that of tackling criminality, however. Indeed, the undermining of legitimate processes, both public and private, has emerged as a central challenge within Sweden’s security strategy. Reported offences are increasing by over 60,000 yearly, and smuggling has been streamlined, opening the importation of illicit substances to a broader range of criminal networks. To achieve this, the criminal economy has relied on exploiting legitimate financial, logistical, political and enforcement structures. The use of bribery, intimidation, and infiltration is thus increasing, intending to exert more influence throughout such structures and their social parallels. Growing criminality poses a critical threat to Swedish society, eroding trust in public institutions, and endangering the safety of its citizens. The Swedish government has been critiqued for its slow response to these trends, and the lack of support offered to organisations in their efforts to secure the integrity of their internal structures.?

How will insider risk manifest?

Espionage and data theft

Incidents of espionage are rapidly increasing in Sweden. Geopolitical tensions and high levels of technological development associated with Sweden make it a prime target for espionage. The academic environment coupled with research and development-intensive organisations will be under the most pressure. In the news, cases of academic espionage have been receiving growing attention, a trend likely to continue. Furthermore, organisations developing technology with dual-use capabilities will be subject to greater pressure due to rising geopolitical tensions. The security services and governmental agencies will, of course, be on high alert over such developments, but will also see their infrastructure increasingly targeted, with efforts aimed at acquiring crucial information and influencing political decision-making in the country.

Case:

Sabotage?

Critical infrastructure, especially in industries like the transport and energy sectors, is at an increasing risk of Sabotage. Generally, physical attacks on European critical infrastructure have been on the rise since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Over 74% of security incidents in the energy sector, for example, are caused by human rather than digital factors. Specifically, Sweden is placing important efforts in strengthening its ports, roads, rail networks, hospitals and shelters. Critical infrastructure, above all, tends to prioritise external security measures such as cybersecurity and physical security. The negligence of insider risk, however, leaves it extremely vulnerable to potential acts of sabotage.?

Case:

Undermining

Another major challenge that Sweden will face is the undermining impact of organised crime. The areas under most pressure here will be key logistical players, including ports and shipping companies, and the employees within the Swedish police. Indeed, Sweden’s high levels of logistical infrastructure have seen criminals exploiting ports and logistic companies operating in the area more and more. The scandal affecting the police and leaks associated with employees coerced by criminal organisations have also significantly raised the alarm over the undermining impacts of organised crime in Sweden.?

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