– Highlights from Almedalen –
That was the central question at the seminar “From Risk to Progress – Cybersecurity as a Catalyst for Innovation,” organized by Omegapoint, where leaders from business, government, and defense came together to discuss how cybersecurity can be integrated into fast-moving organizations without becoming a barrier to innovation.
The panel featured Daniel Deogun, Chief Technology & Academy Officer at Omegapoint, Niclas Lamberg, CIO at the Swedish Transport Administration, Sandra Barouta Elvin, National Security Officer at Microsoft Sweden, John Billow, Head of the Swedish National Cyber Security Centre, and Ewa Skoog Haslum, Head of Operations at the Swedish Armed Forces. The discussion was moderated by Cissi Elwin.
Cybersecurity can no longer be viewed as a support function
One of the key takeaways was that cybersecurity can no longer be viewed as a support function or a specialist concern. It has become a strategic business issue.
Too often, cybersecurity and innovation are portrayed as opposing forces, as if organizations must choose between moving fast and staying secure. Yet several speakers argued the opposite: without cybersecurity, sustainable innovation becomes impossible. Security is no longer something that can be added later; it is a prerequisite for developing, testing, and scaling new solutions with confidence.
Courage
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was courage.
After all, innovation requires taking risks. At the same time, uncertainty surrounding cybersecurity, cloud adoption, AI, and emerging technologies can lead to excessive caution that slows progress. This is particularly true in the public sector, where risk tolerance is naturally lower than in private industry. But as Sandra Barouta Elvin emphasized, being afraid of technology is not the answer. We need to understand its potential, use it wisely, and build the right safeguards around it.
Ewa Skoog Haslum captured the essence of the discussion in a simple but powerful statement:
We should not be afraid, but we should be prepared.”
Preparation is not about eliminating all risk. It is about building capability.
Ewa compared cybersecurity to tending a garden:
It requires continuous care.”
You cannot make one major investment and assume the job is done. Cybersecurity must be embedded into everyday operations, much like quality management or workplace safety. Organizations that work on it continuously avoid building up technical and organizational debt that later becomes costly and difficult to address.
Daniel Deogun also highlighted how cybersecurity has evolved from being a niche interest to a boardroom issue and a shared responsibility across the organization. At the same time, many organizations face a significant shortage of cybersecurity knowledge and talent. As digital transformation accelerates, security capabilities must keep pace.
AI was highlighted as an important part of the solution, not only as a potential risk, but as a powerful tool for identifying vulnerabilities, detecting anomalies, and strengthening defenses in increasingly complex digital environments.
Perhaps the most important message of the day, however, extended beyond technology itself.
Cybersecurity is not just a challenge for businesses, government agencies, or security professionals. It is a societal challenge.
As Ewa Skoog Haslum put it:
We need to mobilize the whole of society.”
And that starts with individuals. Only when people are sufficiently prepared can we build organizations, businesses, and communities that are resilient enough to withstand future challenges.
There is certainly much to be cautious about. But there is also much reason for optimism.
We have the knowledge, the technology, and the innovative capacity. The question is whether we have the courage to use them.
