Sweden’s Diplomat Programme Returns to Cybercampus
Cyber threats, geopolitics and AI. All packed into half a day. Sweden’s future diplomats once again gathered at Cybercampus for an intensive session at the cutting edge of cybersecurity. The training collaboration, now running twice a year, has firmly established itself as a staple of the diplomat programme.
Participants in the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ diplomat programme recently returned to Cybercampus for a tailored training day in cybersecurity. The programme was delivered as a half-day – compact and intensive, with a broad range of speakers and topics. And just like previous editions, the future diplomats left with insights spanning everything from personal IT security to major geopolitical shifts, rounded off with a unique bonus at the end of the day.
The Day at a Glance
Mette Svensson, Business Developer for Continuing Education at Cybercampus, welcomed the participants and provided an introduction to Cybercampus and the Swedish cybersecurity landscape.
Throughout the session, participants heard from a handpicked selection of speakers with deep expertise in their respective fields:
Jacob Henricsson, Nrdsnipe, opened with the fundamentals of cybersecurity, cyber hygiene and information security for organisations. A practical, accessible session for participants who may not have a technical background but will regularly handle sensitive information throughout their careers.
Thom Thavenius, Deputy Head of Security at KTH, stepped back to paint the broader geopolitical and security landscape. What does the global threat picture look like, and what does it mean for Swedish interests abroad?
Ihor Malchenyuk, formerly of Ukraine’s Cyber Defense Department (SSSCIP) and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, shared first-hand experience from the front lines. His talk, “Cyber defence in Ukraine: frontline case studies and strategic insights”, gave participants a rare look at how cyber defence operates under real and extreme conditions, and what lessons Sweden can draw from it.
Henrik Bergqvist, Cisco, explored what it takes to build a resilient society and infrastructure – and what role cybersecurity plays in that broader societal picture.
Thomas Brännström, Cisco, closed the programme with a forward-looking perspective: “AI under attack – how to protect future generative intelligence.” His session examined the pace of AI development and the new vulnerabilities that come with it.
CYVAC – an early preview of tomorrow’s foundational training
Following the training day, all participants were given access to an early version of CYVAC – a digital foundational cybersecurity course developed by Cybercampus Sverige in collaboration with the Swedish Armed Forces, aimed at raising the baseline level of cybersecurity knowledge across society. Participants worked through the full programme with an instructor on hand for guidance and questions.