On 27 May 2020 the Federal Council adopted the Ordinance on Protecting against Cyber Risks (OPCy, available in French and German), which is set to enter into force on 1 July 2020. This move is the next step in a series of measures taken by the Federal Council to adopt a new organisational structure and implement a national strategy to protect Switzerland against cyber risks (NCS, available in German, French, Italian and English).
The OPCy regulates the structure and tasks of several cybersecurity bodies of the federal administration. A so-called ‘Cyber Group’ (Article 8 of the OPCy) is composed of representatives from several federal departments, a representative of the cantons and is presided over by the federal cybersecurity delegate. The Cyber Group’s tasks mainly focus on the assessment of cyber risks and existing mechanisms in the fields of cybersecurity, cyber defence and cybercrime. It also supports the interdepartmental management of cyber incidents.
Moreover, the OPCy provides for the development of a National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – also headed by the federal cybersecurity delegate and encompassing the existing structure known as MELANI – that will…
