Nordic countries have long been viewed as models of digital innovation, but that progress comes at a cost. As cybersecurity threats intensify and geopolitical tensions grow, critical infrastructure in this region is becoming an increasingly attractive target for hacktivists and nation state actors. Sweden, in particular, stands on a new frontline where digital disruption could mean national instability.
At Next IT Security, we’ve tracked this shift closely, engaging with CISOs, policymakers, and infrastructure providers. One message is clear: organizations must now treat cybersecurity as a national priority, not just an operational concern.
What Is Critical Infrastructure in 2025 Really?
We all know the formal definition of critical infrastructure — energy grids, water systems, healthcare, transport, public services. But here is the truth: in 2025, that list is outdated.
In a hyper connected, cloud first world, your critical infrastructure might also be your cloud provider, logistics app, or authentication service. It is anything your society relies on to keep running without interruption.
We have built expectations around seamless digital service. And when those services fail, even briefly, the ripple effects are immediate: hospitals face scheduling chaos, payments break down, trust erodes.
Cybersecurity can no longer protect just the obvious. It must anticipate the next weak point, even when that point is invisible to the public.
The Silent Threat Beneath: Undersea Infrastructure
Modern critical infrastructure is not just above ground. Sweden and its Baltic neighbors depend on undersea cables, pipelines, and data corridors that quietly support internet access, energy, and communications.
Suspicious maritime activity in the region has already prompted swift response. Sweden’s Memorandum of Understanding signed this year is a clear acknowledgment that defending critical infrastructure requires regional, even continental cooperation.
This is where cybersecurity strategy meets geopolitical urgency and where leaders must be ready to act beyond their immediate network perimeter.
Sweden’s Interconnected Risk Profile
A recent report submitted to the Swedish government highlighted an unsettling reality: while the electricity system is strong, other sectors like rail transport remain deeply vulnerable.
This interconnectedness means cybersecurity professionals cannot afford tunnel vision. A rail disruption could trigger hospital delivery failures or emergency service delays. And critical infrastructure failures, regardless of origin, now spread faster and further than ever before.
At Next IT Security, we advocate for cross sector drills, coordinated planning, and the elevation of cybersecurity to board level strategy. Only then can countries like Sweden build true resilience.
Hacktivism Is Not Just Noise, It Is a Weapon
We often think of cybersecurity threats in terms of data theft or silent infiltration. But many of today’s threats are loud by design. Hacktivist groups target the Nordics not for money, but for impact.
From DDoS attacks to misinformation campaigns, they seek to disrupt trust in public services. Some operate independently, while others may be indirectly aligned with nation state agendas, leveraging chaos as a political tool.
The takeaway is that visibility matters. So does narrative control. Cybersecurity now includes reputation protection.
What Needs to Happen Next
The time for reactive defense is over. Organizations across the Nordics must evolve their cybersecurity approach, starting with a mindset shift.
- View cybersecurity as a societal issue, not just a technical one
- Expand the definition of critical infrastructure beyond the traditional
- Integrate geopolitical threats into cyber risk modeling
- Build regional public private collaboration channels
- Test response plans with real world sabotage scenarios
At Next IT Security, we are creating space for these conversations and more importantly, for action.
Conclusion: Standing Still Is No Longer an Option
When critical infrastructure is at risk, so is national stability. Whether it is a power grid, a health network, or a digital identity service, disruption today is far reaching and fast moving.
That is why cybersecurity must evolve from control based frameworks to resilience focused strategies. It is not about stopping every threat. It is about absorbing, responding, and recovering with strength.
As Next IT Security prepares to bring together Europe’s top security minds this October in Stockholm led by Swedish Armed Forces, INTERPOL, WHO (World Health ORganization), one question will guide our agenda:
Are you ready, not just to protect your systems, but to defend your society?
