As the world changes, protective security also needs to be adjusted and adapted. Resilience to threat actors can be increased by continuously adapting protective security.

The security situation in Sweden and its surroundings has deteriorated over the last few years, and it is difficult to assess how the situation will change internationally. The changes to the protective security legislation that entered into force in 2021 have led to improved protective security within several security-sensitive areas.

To some extent, these changes have also helped to decrease existing vulnerabilities. That said, foreign powers are always looking for new vulnerabilities to exploit in their security-threatening activities in and against Sweden.

“It is primarily Russia, China, and Iran who exploit vulnerabilities in security-sensitive organisations related to information security, personnel security and physical security. They act both opportunistically and with long-term agendas. Therefore, it is important that the protective security work is continual, rather than carried out in separate one-off operations, since the need for protection is constantly changing,” says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi, Head of the Security Department at the Swedish Security Service.

A need for new expertise

The factors that have an impact on Sweden’s security change somewhat over time. For example, with the Swedish NATO membership, it follows that an increasing number of organisations in Sweden will need to interpret and address new critical assets and regulatory frameworks.

Additional factors that can lead to changes for the existing security-sensitive organisations and create new critical assets are the expansions of Sweden’s total defence and the implementation of new preparedness sectors.

The Swedish Security Service notes that there has been a positive development in protective security work over the last few years, but also notes that organisations face new challenges. In many cases, it can be challenging to assess if the work being conducted is of significance to Sweden’s national security, and which aspects of the organisation should be considered critical.

This is particularly true if critical assets are shared between several different organisations and suppliers with joint dependencies. There is a lack of expertise within the field of protective security, which also affects the protection. This lack of expertise poses a risk to the protective security work as a whole; from the identification of critical assets to the implementation of protective security measures.

“In order to understand what is critical, and be able to act on the threats and vulnerabilities that exist, it is fundamental to have relevant expertise. Many organisations today are not fully equipped to address or prioritise protective security. This is a challenge both in the short and the long term. Through analyses and proper planning, organisations can establish effective protective security. The Swedish Security Service’s guidelines are available as support in this work,” says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi.

Security at higher education institutions

Sweden carries out cutting-edge research in several different fields. A lot of work is being conducted through international collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge between universities is often essential to the success of research.

The Swedish Security Service notes that foreign powers have a great interest in Swedish research, and that countries like Russia, China and Iran acquire knowledge and technology through collaboration, and by attempting to recruit and influence researchers in Sweden. Along with this, there are shortcomings in the protective security work that is being conducted at Swedish higher education institutions.

“The greatest vulnerability is the lack of knowledge about the threat posed by these states. There is therefore a need to identify critical assets in this area, with a focus on research security. It is not a question of discrimination or a limitation of academic freedom, but of increased security awareness,” says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi.

In June 2023, the government commissioned the Swedish Council for Higher Education, the Swedish Research Council, and Vinnova with promoting responsible internationalisation in educational, research and innovation cooperative efforts. The key is to find a way for universities to collaborate internationally while safeguarding Swedish national security.

“Awareness about the threat that foreign powers pose to Swedish universities has risen overall. However, we do see a need for clear guidelines to ensure that international research collaboration can be carried out securely. We therefore would like to create a framework for this for our higher education institutions,” says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi.

Global developments affect personal protection

International developments over the last few years have also affected the Swedish Security Service’s diplomatic protection work and the protection of the Central Government. For a number of major events that took place in Sweden in 2024, including the European Parliament elections and the Eurovision Song Contest, the requirements for well-adapted and appropriate protective measures were high.

Going forward, the Swedish Security Service will continue to handle cases of threats to, harassment of, and physical approaches of members of the Central Government. Travel to active war zones, like Ukraine and some parts of the Middle East, have been challenging for the Dignitary Protection Team. To some degree, Sweden’s NATO membership changes the Russian intelligence interest in Swedish politicians.

“In order to secure the protection of dignitaries, both here in Sweden and abroad, we are continuously striving to improve and develop our working methods,” says Carolina Björnsdotter Paasikivi.