The advancing digitalisation in public administration, industry and civil society is leading to a steadily growing risk, which is due, among other things, to the use of untrustworthy digital products. The security and independence of Switzerland is particularly at risk if insecure cyber-physical components are used in the operation of critical infrastructures such as the
energy supply, financial market, transport and communication infrastructure, hospitals and water supply, police and army. In addition, Switzerland faces an unacceptable risk when millions of potentially insecure components are used in the economy and civil society, be they network routers, messaging services, collaboration and video platforms, and IoT devices.
of all IoT devices are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Often the consequences of a breach are severe.
Source: 2020 Unit 42 IoT Threat Report | Paloalto Networks (2020)
of all data traffic via IoT devices is unencrypted. This means personal and confidential data is exposed on the network.
Source: 2020 Unit 42 IoT Threat Report | Paloalto Networks (2020)
of all cyber attacks are due to non-updated software. Most of them could be avoided.
Source: Costs and Consequences of Gaps in Vulnerability Response | Ponemon Institute (2019)
The National Test Institute for Cyber Security NTC tests networked components for their cyber security on behalf of the Confederation, cantonal and municipal authorities, industry as well as universities and NGOs.
The NTC guarantees independent and in-depth testing of the security and trustworthiness of cyber-physical components and makes a strategic contribution to maintaining Switzerland's security and independence.
The NTC is a national test centre for independent and in-depth testing of the security and trustworthiness of cyber-physical components. It is building up its own testing and research infrastructure in the canton of Zug and works closely with universities, private providers of security tests and international test centres.
The NTC has existed as an association domiciled in the canton of Zug since December 2020.
Focus on maintaining Switzerland's security and sovereignty
Priority is given to audit mandates relating to critical infrastructures, authorities such as the police and the army, as well as audits of networked components that are used in large numbers in the Swiss economy and civil society.
Independence
Independence from all manufacturers has top priority. Financial participation by product manufacturers and service providers is excluded. Any influence of persons and organisations on self-determination and objectivity is completely prevented.
Relationship with the private sector and other stakeholders
The security analysis and assessments carried out by NTC are based on international recommendations and standards, which are extended whenever a deeper analysis is necessary. NTC draws on the numerous existing competencies from private industry, research and educational institutions in Switzerland and abroad to ensure assessments with the appropriate level of competence.
Market neutrality
There is no direct influence on the market for hardware and software components. Tests are not carried out with the purpose of increasing sales promotion by manufacturers or dealers.
He is Head of Cybersecurity at Zühlke Engineering and a member of international programme committees for IT security. He is a speaker at international conferences, author of scientific publications in IT security and cryptography, for which he has received several awards. After studying computer science with a focus on information security, he completed his doctorate with honours in web and cloud security at CISPA and Cornell University. He is a co-developer of SCION at ETH.
Founder member, board member, project management
For more than twelve years, he has taken on corporate and association management mandates as well as consulting and project management tasks with his company ICPRO. He is president of ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz, deputy managing director and head of the policy and cybersecurity dossiers of digitalswitzerland, and a member of the bank council of the Nidwaldner Kantonalbank. As an executive in banks, industry and trade associations, he has led major projects in the areas of strategy, IT sourcing and replacement of IT platforms.
Founder member, board member, project management, executive management
After 14 years in the Netherlands, the native German settled in Switzerland in 2011. Sophie Peggs brings more than 20 years of experience in leading positions in the ICT sector. In sales, marketing and project management, she has successfully developed brands, companies and products internationally. Sophie Peggs has been on board at ICPRO GmbH since January 2022. As a project manager, she accompanies various mandates in the planning and realisation of projects from start to success. Communication and media work are just as much a part of her responsibilities as organisational development work. Sophie Peggs speaks 6 languages, has a Master of Advanced Studies in Brand & Marketing Management and considers lifelong learning essential.
Head of Project Management
Annalena Tosi has been working with ICPRO on a wide range of projects and mandates since 2013. As a project manager, she facilitates the successful set-up and management of organisations in the field of digitalisation, politics and cybersecurity. Next to finances and controlling, her area of responsibility also includes communications, conceptual and organisational tasks. She currently attends to the development of the National Test Institute for Cybersecurity NTC and of the Alliance for Digital Security Switzerland ADSS. Also, she supports the policy and cybersecurity departments of the umbrella organisation digitalswitzerland. Within the management of the former umbrella organisation ICTswitzerland (until the merger with digitalswitzerland 2020), Annalena took over the management of the project management and association's administration. During that time, she organised and accompanied the parliamentary seminars in Shenzhen (2014), San Francisco Bay Area (2017) and Israel (2018). Under her project management, Switzerland presented itself as the partner country of CeBIT (2016), at that time the largest trade fair for information technology. Born in Hamburg, she lived in Berlin for many years and studied economics at Freie Universität zu Berlin, specialising in econometrics, finance, growth and business cycle policy. For the past twelve years, Annalena Tosi has been living in Switzerland, where she started her family.
Finance, Project Management
Born in Hamburg, she has over 10 years of professional experience in front-end development and UX/UI design. After training as a media designer, she worked for a well-known comparison portal, where she concentrated on front-end development and made it her passion. After 2 years in a renowned Hanseatic logistics company, where she professionalised her project management skills in a leading position for an IT project, she now makes her expertise available to the NTC.
Web, frontend development
"It is of central importance for Switzerland's cyber security that we can independently assess the security of hardware and software. With the NTC as an independent testing body, this capability will be expanded, which I support as the Confederation's delegate for cyber security."
Delegate of the Confederation for Cyber Security
"The NTC helps to better assess supply chain risks, especially in critical infrastructures. It thus makes a valuable contribution to the implementation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Switzerland against Cyber Risks and thus to increasing cyber security in Switzerland".
Office of the National Cyber Security Centre NCSC
Foundation of the association "National Test Institute for Cyber Security NTC" and entry in the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zug.
In January 2021, the website for the National Cyber Security Testing Institute NTC went live.
On behalf of the National Cyber Security Centre NCSC, the NTC audits the functionalities and security of the Swiss Covid certificate system.
On behalf of an IT service provider for medical, the security of its services was audited.
The Cantonal Council Zug decided positively and unanimously on 31.3.2022 on the allocation of CHF 7.55 million as proposed by the Government Council for the National Cyber Security Test Institute NTC.
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