Insights from the TOUGHBOOK Innovation Forum 2025

IT Experts Agree on Winning Formula: Joining Forces and Sharing Intelligence is Pivotal for Beating Cyber Criminals

written by Ulrika Sturk, Marketing Manager Nordics, TOUGHBOOK EU

Recently, we had the honour of hosting the annual TOUGHBOOK Innovation Forum in Stockholm, bringing together some of the brightest minds in IT security. This event led to an engaging and somewhat surprising discussion on how to combat the ever-growing threat of international cyber criminals.

The question posed was simple yet complex: How do companies beat the increasing number of international cyber criminals? The answer, as highlighted by several experts, lies in collaboration.

Ronja Ahlberg, Director of Cyber Defence at SOFF, emphasised the importance of united efforts in facing advanced cyber threats.

"Companies and governments often act alone, while attackers cross borders. By sharing threat intelligence, we build a stronger, collective defence against emerging dangers. On our own, no one can keep track of the extremely complicated web of international cyber threats, which only keeps growing."

SOFF (the Swedish Security & Defence Industry Association) has taken a proactive approach by creating a network of businesses dedicated to sharing information, strategies, and experiences in real time. This initiative aims to keep pace with attackers and potentially stay one step ahead, leveraging the collective experience of its members.

Ahlberg also pointed out that Sweden's status as one of the most digitalised countries in the world increases its risk of cyber attacks. The threat has become even more substantial due to new working patterns, where employees operate from home or various public venues, rather than protected office spaces.

Supporting Ahlberg's points, Anders Bennström, Consultant for Total Defence at 2Secure, highlighted that Swedish companies are now higher on international attackers' target lists, especially after Sweden's admission to NATO.

"We must get used to a new life within NATO and with new hostile surroundings. We believed that eternal peace was upon us, but recent international developments have shown us that it was not. The problem is that we have a giant knowledge gap in terms of civil defence, because we have been out of the game for so long. The challenges are many – and cyber security is one of the most important ones."

Stefan Lindau, Nordic Country Manager of Panasonic TOUGHBOOK and the event's host, stressed the critical importance of cyber security for every company.

"Security is like flossing. We know that it’s important, but we don’t necessarily get it done. Only when your gums are bleeding, do we tend to react. With cyber security, attackers look for our weakest points and strike where it hurts the most. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are many game-changing solutions, both in hardware and software. If we join forces and work together, we can make it."

The TOUGHBOOK Innovation Forum is an annual event that brings together IT experts to explore emerging trends, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of field work across industries. This year's forum underscored the vital role of collaboration and intelligence sharing in building a robust defence against cyber threats. As organisers, we left with a renewed sense of purpose and a clearer understanding of the collective effort required to safeguard our digital future.

Organising the TOUGHBOOK Innovation Forum was an eye-opening experience, and we look forward to seeing how these collaborative efforts evolve and strengthen our defences against cyber criminals.

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