Beyond Protection: Advania’s New Cybersecurity Approach

To achieve this, Advania has established a centre of excellence that brings together CISOs from all its regions. Meeting monthly, the group develops strategies to combat cybersecurity threats and ensures a unified baseline security standard across all markets. 'It's about pooling resources to tackle common challenges. Instead of each region solving the same problem independently, we create solutions together,' Henric explains.

Unique cybersecurity approach

Advania's customer-focused philosophy extends to its approach to cybersecurity. 'It's about partnership,' Henric explains. "We don't just sell isolated solutions; we help customers see the bigger picture. Advania's broad IT expertise allows us to connect the dots in a way that sets us apart." This holistic perspective ensures that security is embedded throughout the entire IT landscape, rather than as an afterthought.

The cybersecurity landscape is shifting towards resilience rather than just protection. 'It's no longer enough to put up defences and hope they hold. Resilience asks, 'What if our systems are compromised? How do we continue operations?' says Henric, adding that this change requires businesses to rethink data placement, cloud reliance, and their ability to withstand attacks

Fostering awareness and collaboration

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also transforming cybersecurity, both as a tool for defence and a challenge to address. 'AI accelerates threats like phishing, making them harder to detect and more personalised. To keep pace, we'll need to leverage AI defensively, leading to what I call an algorithm war,' adds Henric, emphasising that the human factor remains crucial.
'The core principles of cybersecurity – don't click on suspicious links, keep systems updated, and use strong, unique passwords – are still relevant. But technology alone won't solve these challenges; we need to focus on awareness and culture.'

Collaboration also plays a critical role, extending beyond internal teams to include partners and suppliers. Henric draws parallels to sustainability efforts, where the entire value chain must be considered. 'Regulations like NIS2 and DORA highlight the need for supply chain security. Everyone in the chain – partners, suppliers, customers – must do their part.'
His ultimate goal is to help Advania's customers build resilience together. 'Our mission isn't just to detect threats but to prepare for and recover from them. Whether it's designing a strategy for cyberattacks or supporting customers as they grow, we aim to be their trusted partner in resilience.'

Incident response and commitment to transparency

Only by working together can we stay ahead of evolving threats and create safer digital environments for everyone. 'In early 2024, Advania Sweden experienced a security incident in a limited part of our customer environment. On the day of discovery, we swiftly isolated the affected environment and promptly informed approximately 60 affected customers. Our response team initiated a thorough investigation and worked closely with customers to ensure they received technical support and guidance throughout the process', explains Henric.
'Within a week, we had restored most services in the affected environment according to plan and under close security monitoring. The majority of customers returned to normal operations, while we continued to address a few customer-specific services in close collaboration with those impacted. No claims for damages were made by our customers.'

At Advania, we strongly believe that security is built on transparency, collaboration, and shared responsibility – both within the industry and in partnership with our customers.