Government supports the development of information security in businesses

On 13 October 2022, the Government issued a decree on the support for the development of information security, i.e. the so-called information security voucher. The decree will enter into force on 1 December 2022.

The new, fixed-term support could be used by organisations for improving, in concrete terms, the information security of their systems and for developing their own information security expertise. Raising the general level of cyber security preparedness in sectors critical to society will improve the society's capabilities to protect against hybrid threats, for example.

"Cyber security of businesses plays a decisive role in the comprehensive security of society. The information security voucher is a new, important tool for businesses of all sizes. Again we are setting an example to other EU Member States," says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.

The information security voucher is directed to businesses in sectors critical to the functioning of society. There are two categories of vouchers. The smaller voucher does not exceed EUR 15,000 per company. It can be used by companies for the auditing and evaluation of their information systems, for the training of personnel, or for competence development, for example.

The maximum value of the bigger information security voucher is EUR 100,000 and it is intended for threat modelling and testing of cyber attack prevention as well as for immediate measures to improve information security on the basis of these. With that voucher, companies can cover 70% of the costs of an information security project, and the company will be responsible for 30% of the project costs.

In the second supplementary budget for 2022, an appropriation of EUR 6 million was allocated to the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for the development of information security in Finnish businesses. The fixed-term information security vouchers can be granted within the scope of that allocation.

What's next?

The decree will enter into force on 1 December 2022. Support for the development of information security can be applied for from the National Cyber Security Centre of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency as of 1 December 2022.

Inquiries:

Mari Marttila, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 50 473 2933, [email protected]

Maija Ahokas, Director of Unit, tel. +358 40 031 6178, [email protected], Twitter: @mmaija

Press release, 30 June 2022: Support for organisational information security, comments invited on information security vouchers
Government plenary session 13.10.2022 (in Finnish)