By Monica Persson, FSS Chair and Social Services Director, Karlstad Municipality, Sweden.

Here in Sweden, it looks like spring is finally reaching us. After the long winter months, the arrival of light and warmth is welcoming.

And, talking about ’welcoming’. We at FSS are looking forward to the ESN conference, which is less than two months away, and being part of the welcoming contingent to all the participants. As well as having representatives from FSS attending the conference and at the booth in the exhibition are we are also hosting an interactive workshop.

Within the remit of this year’s conference topic, we have chosen to contribute with a workshop based on a” real-life” event. In December 2021 the municipality of Kalix, in the far north of Sweden, was subjected to a cyberattack which resulted in the shutdown of IT systems and the failing of many important digital tools needed to provide social services to Kalix residents. Suddenly the municipality’s IT functions were held at ransom and services were suspended. A real-life drama was played out that needed a coordinated and creative response to maintain the provision of essential services in some shape or form.

By presenting the case of Kalix we hope to give workshop participants the opportunity to examine their own preparedness, contingency plans, and vulnerability to such an attack. In the face of a debilitating cyberattack services still need to be provided, but how? The general view is that it’s not a question of if it will happen, by intent or default, but when!

Maybe you are part of an organisation that has everything in place, maybe you’ve had experience of a cyberattack or maybe you’re just curious. Whichever, we look forward to ‘welcoming’ you to the workshop on Thursday 15th June at 09.30: “Held to Ransom! How to Prepare for Cyberattacks.”