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Towards a Baltic Sea Region Strategy in Critical ... - Helsinki.fi

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CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION<br />

<strong>in</strong>frastructure that l<strong>in</strong>ks research and higher education <strong>in</strong>stitutions across several<br />

countries <strong>in</strong> the region. Similarly, mult<strong>in</strong>ational <strong>fi</strong>rms <strong>in</strong> the ICT sector, such as the<br />

telecom operator TeliaSonera AB, now own <strong>in</strong>frastructure and/or have operations<br />

that span several BSR countries. These developments accelerate the need for<br />

match<strong>in</strong>g regional CIIP efforts that also serve to complement the CIIP strategies<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g planned or implemented at a national level. The regional CIIP efforts could<br />

be based on the recognition of the commonality of risks (vulnerabilities, threats<br />

and assets) and the potential escalation or cascad<strong>in</strong>g of regional disruptions with<strong>in</strong><br />

the BSR - the cyber-crime <strong>in</strong>cidents target<strong>in</strong>g customers of Nordea bank across the<br />

region, be<strong>in</strong>g one of many exist<strong>in</strong>g examples. Furthermore, regional efforts could<br />

be built on the potential of the extra value accrued by hav<strong>in</strong>g robust regional CII,<br />

which translates <strong>in</strong>to improved regional security, trade opportunities and other<br />

economic spill-overs. Examples of some of the early regional CIIP efforts <strong>in</strong> the<br />

BSR <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />

• Example 1: The conception of cross-border TETRA-based PSS networks<br />

as part of the general effort to improve cooperation between government<br />

agencies operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> local regions either side of national borders. The<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiatives with the BSR <strong>in</strong>cludes: the exist<strong>in</strong>g shar<strong>in</strong>g arrangement<br />

between the F<strong>in</strong>nish VIRVE network and Estonian authorities (Laanet<br />

2007), the envisioned <strong>in</strong>terconnection of the Swedish (RAKEL) and<br />

Norwegian (Nodnett) PSS networks (Vollan 2006), as well as exploratory<br />

talks between Polish and Lithuanian of<strong>fi</strong>cials for future PSS<br />

<strong>in</strong>terconnection (Police M<strong>in</strong>istry of Interior 2007). Co<strong>in</strong>cidentally, the<br />

vision of such cross-border is compatible with the Schengen treaty<br />

requirement for “the timely transmission of <strong>in</strong>formation for the purposes<br />

of cross-border surveillance and hot pursuit.” 105<br />

• Example 2: The <strong>in</strong>ception of a Nordisk CERT Forum (NCF) for<br />

cooperation and exchange of <strong>in</strong>formation on security <strong>in</strong>cidents among<br />

eight academic and national CERT teams from Denmark, F<strong>in</strong>land,<br />

Norway and Sweden.<br />

These example <strong>in</strong>itiatives, while still admittedly piecemeal by focus<strong>in</strong>g on only a<br />

subset of BSR countries, serve as a useful start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t for further BSR-wide<br />

<strong>in</strong>itiatives (e.g., a <strong>Baltic</strong> <strong>Sea</strong> <strong>Region</strong> CERT). To that end, some form of regional or<br />

cross-border PPP with <strong>fi</strong>rm CIIP objectives is necessary to promote, implement<br />

and oversee the various regional CIIP strategic actions. This PPP could probably<br />

be <strong>in</strong>itiated from a BSR project, such as, the BSR InnoNet project. 106<br />

International<br />

The connectivity of <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>in</strong>frastructure has a global reach. Therefore, the<br />

threat actors are equally global <strong>in</strong> their presence and their attacks just as effective,<br />

regardless of location. Moreover, as globalization cont<strong>in</strong>ues to take hold, the<br />

105 Article 44 of Schengen acquis as referred to <strong>in</strong> Article 1(2) of Council Decision 1999/435/EC<br />

of 20 May 1999 (European Council 1999). Majority of BSR countries are now signatories of the<br />

Schengen Agreement.<br />

106 The BSR InnoNet project is l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g policymakers, agencies and analysts to create a jo<strong>in</strong>t<br />

<strong>in</strong>novation framework for the region (BSR Innonet 2007).<br />

138 NORDREGIO REPORT 2007:5

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