Joining NATO: Effects on Finland's Cyber Security
Helin, Aleksi; Himanen, Paula (2023)
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052915547
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023052915547
Tiivistelmä
The objective of this thesis was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Finland’s cyber security as well as the threats and opportunities of NATO membership. These effects were used to analyze how to benefit most from the membership and how to avoid possible detriments. The purpose of the thesis is to increase awareness of Finland’s NATO membership from a cybersecurity point of view. The thesis was conducted as a theoretical study.
The theoretical framework consists of research on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), cyber security, selected themes, and existing research on the thesis topic. The emphasis in the theoretical framework is on explaining the terms (themes) used in the thesis.
The thesis topic is divided into twelve themes based on the literature review. Each theme is evaluated individually and compared to each other in the analysis phase. The themes were cyber security management, cyber situation picture, cyber security preparedness, cyber security skills, legislation, cyberspace, cyber warfare, education and capabilities, indirect effects, intelligence, new collaboration partners, and new technologies.
The thesis was conducted using qualitative research methods for data collection and analysis. A literature review and semi-structured expert interviews were used for the data collection. The gathered data were analyzed using the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis framework. SWOT analysis was utilized in comparing the cyber security strengths and weaknesses of Finland to the opportunities and threats of NATO membership. The themes were divided into overall categories based on the SWOT analysis, but most of the
themes included both strengths and weaknesses or opportunities and threats. The overall analysis is based on the evaluation of each of these factors.
Finland’s cyber security has more strengths than weaknesses. Only legislation and cyber security management were seen as weaknesses. Membership in NATO provides significantly more opportunities than threats and was seen as a positive development for Finland. Cyberspace and indirect effects were seen as possible threats. Four strategies were identified for battling the threats arising from the membership and five strategies for receiving the benefits from the membership. One of the greatest opportunities was the increase of information sharing and thus the improvement of the situation picture. The identified threats (indirect effects and cyberspace) include multiple uncertainties, but it was found out that Finland has strengths that can be used in mitigating these threats.
The effects of NATO membership have been studied previously, but the focus has not been on cyber security. This thesis provides research information on the effects that the membership has on Finnish cyber security. Due to the vastness of the topic, further research is recommended on the discovered strategies to create action plans to implement them to practice.
The theoretical framework consists of research on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), cyber security, selected themes, and existing research on the thesis topic. The emphasis in the theoretical framework is on explaining the terms (themes) used in the thesis.
The thesis topic is divided into twelve themes based on the literature review. Each theme is evaluated individually and compared to each other in the analysis phase. The themes were cyber security management, cyber situation picture, cyber security preparedness, cyber security skills, legislation, cyberspace, cyber warfare, education and capabilities, indirect effects, intelligence, new collaboration partners, and new technologies.
The thesis was conducted using qualitative research methods for data collection and analysis. A literature review and semi-structured expert interviews were used for the data collection. The gathered data were analyzed using the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis framework. SWOT analysis was utilized in comparing the cyber security strengths and weaknesses of Finland to the opportunities and threats of NATO membership. The themes were divided into overall categories based on the SWOT analysis, but most of the
themes included both strengths and weaknesses or opportunities and threats. The overall analysis is based on the evaluation of each of these factors.
Finland’s cyber security has more strengths than weaknesses. Only legislation and cyber security management were seen as weaknesses. Membership in NATO provides significantly more opportunities than threats and was seen as a positive development for Finland. Cyberspace and indirect effects were seen as possible threats. Four strategies were identified for battling the threats arising from the membership and five strategies for receiving the benefits from the membership. One of the greatest opportunities was the increase of information sharing and thus the improvement of the situation picture. The identified threats (indirect effects and cyberspace) include multiple uncertainties, but it was found out that Finland has strengths that can be used in mitigating these threats.
The effects of NATO membership have been studied previously, but the focus has not been on cyber security. This thesis provides research information on the effects that the membership has on Finnish cyber security. Due to the vastness of the topic, further research is recommended on the discovered strategies to create action plans to implement them to practice.