The National Cyber Security Centre is the federal government's competence centre for cybersecurity and thus the first point of contact for businesses, public services, educational institutions and the population when it comes to cyberissues. It is responsible for the coordinated implementation of the national cyberstrategy (NCS).
The NCSC's main task is to make Switzerland more secure in cyberspace. To this end, it raises awareness and warns the public about cyberthreats and cyberattacks. The NCSC receives reports of cyberincidents and supports operators of critical infrastructures, in particular, in dealing with them. It produces technical analyses to assess and prevent cyberincidents and cyberthreats, and to identify and eliminate weaknesses in Switzerland's protection against cyberthreats.
Cybersecurity has grown hugely in importance at all levels in recent years. It is a key factor for the business location and for the population's security in cyberspace. It also plays an important role in national and international foreign and security policy. Ensuring cybersecurity has therefore become an essential federal task.
For this reason, on 2 December 2022, the Federal Council decided to transform the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) into a federal office with effect from 1 January 2024, and to relocate it to the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
Florian Schütz, the Federal Cybersecurity Delegate and Head of the NCSC, was appointed as Director of the new federal office by the Federal Council on 24 May 2023. He took up the post on 1 January 2024.
