Staying safe through a crisis: Emergency planning is the key to cyber resilience
Bern, 10.11.2025 — Cyberattacks that paralyse public services or result in the disclosure of sensitive data can undermine the public's trust in government institutions. Past incidents and the 2025 Myni Gmeind survey on cybersecurity demonstrate that many communes could enhance their preparedness for cyberincidents. To help communes and organisations in Switzerland strengthen their cyber resilience, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched a project together with its partner network. As part of this project, the NCSC has developed an emergency planning model, a set of practical tools, and an educational video, all of which are available on its website. The NCSC is also offering Brown Bag Lunches to show communes and organisations how best to prepare for cyberincidents.
Emergency plans are a vital part of effective risk management. They enable organisations to analyse potential problems and their impacts, and address them proactively. By considering possible risks at an early stage, emergency plans enable organisations to identify and implement preventive measures. The topics covered include crisis organisation, crisis communication, key emergency contacts and concrete measures. Together, these elements form the basis of a coordinated and appropriate response in time-critical situations.
Protective measures and tools
Past incidents and the 2025 Myni Gmeind survey on cybersecurity show that many communes could enhance their preparedness for cyberincidents even more. Against this backdrop, the NCSC and its partner network are carrying out a project to pool cybersecurity expertise and resources from different sectors. The aim is to establish a shared understanding of cyber emergency planning among communes and organisations. A basic emergency planning model, practical tools and an educational video are available on the NCSC website. Feedback can be submitted via an online form to help further develop and expand the available tools.
Registration is now open for the Brown Bag Lunch, “Emergency plan for communes”.
On 20 and 27 November, the NCSC will hold Brown Bag Lunch for Swiss communes, each from 12pm to 1pm, to present the emergency planning model and associated tools. These events will be held in French and German, and will later be translated and subtitled before being published on the NCSC's YouTube channel.
To register for the event, visit: