Parliament insists on mandatory cybersecurity audits
Published: Thursday, Dec 12th 2024, 12:30
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The federal government must have a legal basis and funds to check networked infrastructures, devices and applications for cyber security. This is what Parliament is demanding. The National Council passed a motion to this effect on Thursday.
It voted in favor of the motion put forward by the Security Policy Committee of the Council of States (SIK-S) by 122 votes to 62. This committee had justified the motion with serious data thefts and operational interruptions at authorities, public institutions and companies close to the federal government.
Cyber attacks are now a real threat to public life and increasingly also to private life, according to the majority. Not only is the number of attacks increasing, but they are also becoming more technically sophisticated and the potential damage greater.
However, the SIK-S criticized the lack of laws, binding standards and minimum requirements and product liability for software. As a result, insecure products and applications are entering the market, which can be exploited by cyber criminals worldwide and also by state actors.
A minority was against the demand. Preventing hacker attacks is indeed necessary, said spokesperson Mauro Tuena (SVP/ZH). However, the federal government should not have to intervene with an "open-ended" amount.
The Federal Council agreed with the mandate. The critical point was the financing of the tests, said Defense Minister Viola Amherd. And a yes vote did not mean that the federal government would bear the costs of the tests. These should be borne by those who need them.
©Keystone/SDA
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