No joke: mandatory reporting of cyber attacks on critical infrastructures applies from 1 April 2025
In a presentation at the University of Bern on 22 August 2023, I explained the modalities regarding data security and reporting obligations under the DPA and the ISG in procurement. Now there is something to report again in this area: From 1 April 2025, operators of critical infrastructure in Switzerland will be obliged to report cyberattacks suffered to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (BACS) within 24 hours of their discovery. This measure is intended to strengthen cyber security and increase the resilience of essential services. We showed that this is necessary in the Insight of 31 December 2024, in which we reported on the high number of cyber incidents in Switzerland (every 8.5 minutes!). The current article explains the background to the new reporting obligation, the legal basis, the sectors affected and the practical implications, and provides recommendations for action for companies and authorities.
