Situational picture of security of supply: Overall picture looking brighter

The overall situational picture of security of supply has started to look slightly brighter over the past month. Some industries are still being affected by industrial action, but on the other hand many acute problems are starting to ease up. As a result, the focus of preparedness is starting to shift further towards the future and next winter. Cyber security and personnel shortages are causing concerns, however.

The National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), together with the National Emergency Supply Organisation (NESO), maintains an overall picture of security of supply to support the decision-making of the private sector and the Finnish government.

The situational picture report includes an overview of different industries’ ability to function and the challenges they may face. The overall situational picture of security of supply examines the challenges in the operating environment from several perspectives. As of the start of 2023, the situational picture will be updated once a month.

The National Emergency Supply Agency releases a brief summary of the situational picture report. The details concerning industries are classified and are therefore not made public.

Situational picture on 10 March: Concerns over personnel availability and cyber security

Over the past month, the overall situational picture of security of supply has started to look slightly brighter. This applies to both assessments of the current state of security of supply and predictions of how it will develop.

The impacts of the industrial action carried out over the past month vary from industry to industry. In the most severely affected industries, recovery may take up to several weeks. Although some strikes and threats thereof have already been called off, there are still industries that may face industrial action in the near future.

Personnel availability and sufficiency are causing concerns in several different industries.

With some acute concerns already easing up (such as the possibility of electricity shortages), companies are starting to turn their focus further towards the future and next winter. In fact, preparedness for next winter has already been developed and increased. At the same time, however, current economic trends and general uncertainty continue to cause concerns and hinder operational planning.

Threats related to cyber security and increasing numbers of cyber attacks are strongly highlighted in the predictions regarding the situational picture.

The interest of citizens and the media in self-preparedness seems to have decreased somewhat since the exceptional interest exhibited in the autumn and winter.