Cybersecurity threats are rising fast – and the need for skilled experts is growing even faster. Across the Nordics and Baltics, organisations, educators, and policymakers are facing the challenge of keeping pace with both cyber risks and rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
“Cybersecurity and AI are reshaping our world faster than education systems can adapt,” says Grete Kodi, Head Organiser of Cybercation. “Cybercation 2025 brings together educators, policymakers, and businesses to close that gap – to build a shared regional approach to cybersecurity skills and digital trust.
“Cybersecurity education is not only a local issue. Both the market and many areas of human life are already digitalised. All digital is inherently cross-border. Cybersecurity – or insecurity – is also shared,” says Peter Sund, CEO of the Finnish Information Security Cluster (FISC). “The Nordics and Baltics face the same risks – and the best response is regional collaboration. We need to develop a shared understanding of challenges and solutions, align our competency development efforts, and create pathways to build cybersecurity expertise. By working together, we can ensure our societies remain resilient and trusted in a digital world.”
Recent data underscores the urgency of this work. According to a Telia survey conducted with Kantar, nearly half of Finns (48%) now see cyberattacks as one of the biggest threats facing the country – an 18-point increase in just two years.
“The concern is understandable, because cyber security affects the whole of society, its services and people as citizens. Telia keeps people and businesses connected, even when the cyber world is turbulent”, says Holger Haljand, CEO of Telia Finland. “Cybersecurity calls for cooperation between the private sector, academia, and public institutions. We must work together for a digitally secure and strong society”, Haljand adds.
Furthermore, the Finnish Digital Security Barometer 2025 confirms that around 60% of citizens are now concerned about cyberattacks and digital scams targeting society, and almost 40% feel their trust in digital security has weakened.
Across the region, the CIO Analytics 2025 survey reveals that 75% of IT leaders in the Nordics and Baltics now rank security as their top priority – up sharply from 50% a year ago. In the Baltics, one in four organisations has already faced a major cyberattack in the past year, yet only 27% have tested their crisis plans. Meanwhile, AI adoption has doubled (from 28% to 45%), but just 13% of organisations say they are gaining clear business value from it.
The demand for cybersecurity, cloud, and architecture experts is rising steeply, while women still make up only about 20% of IT professionals.
About Cybercation 2025
Cybercation 2025: Nordic-Baltic Educators’ Forum is a regional platform uniting educators, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen cybersecurity and AI education across the Nordics and Baltics. The forum focuses on practical collaboration, knowledge exchange, and building future-ready digital talent.
The event will take place on November 4, 2025, at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, as part of the Cyber Security Nordic programme. Cybercation 2025 is organised in cooperation with the Finnish Information Security Cluster (FISC). Telia Finland acts as the main sponsor of Cybercation. As one of the largest cyber employers in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Telia aims to raise awareness about society’s cyber resilience and continuity of services, as well as the rapidly growing need for cyber experts.
