What does Swedish cryptography mean for future capability?

In the discussion, the question of why cryptography is such a central part of Swedens defence capability was highlighted. Cryptography forms the foundation for secure communication and trust in information, including through digital signatures and authentication, enabling confidence that information has not been tampered with and that its origin can be verified.

On the importance of national control, Jens Bohlin states:

 "In all situations where we need to ensure that we have Swedish sovereignty over the systems and keys that protect us from foreign antagonistic threats, we must have our own capability. Without it, we have to rely on other countries. This could mean that we do not get systems tailored to our requirements and conditions, that they do not meet the security and quality we expect, that they are not available when we need them, and, in the worst case, that they contain backdoors that render entire systems ineffective."

The discussion also addressed the threat posed by quantum computers, which could compromise all modern cryptosystems that have not yet been updated with quantum-resistant algorithms. Jens explained that the threat is real enough for Sweden to take action. All secure cryptographic functions reviewed and approved by the Swedish Armed Forces are already quantum-resistant, but many commercial solutions are still not updated. Organisations must audit their systems and ensure that suppliers have a plan for when and how the transition to quantum-resistant security will take place.

In conclusion, Jens offered his advice to decision-makers for the next 3–5 years: Sweden needs to set concrete goals for what cryptographic capability and position the country should have, determine which parts should be managed independently and which can be handled internationally, assess how much dependency can be accepted in supply chains, and develop a strategy to achieve these goals, securing resources and long-term continuity..