Jukka Savolainen, Director of the Community of Interest on Vulnerabilities and Resilience at Hybrid CoE, received the Security Award presented today by Finnsecurity ry. The award recognizes notable actions, inventions, or long-term achievements in the field of security.
“Jukka Savolainen has frequently identified different types of hybrid threats in the media and has informed the public about the need for Finns to respond and prepare. The complexity of hybrid activities requires someone to explain the nature of these threats in an understandable way. This is a role Jukka has performed excellently,” said Jere Peltonen, Chairman of Finnsecurity ry.
Finnsecurity ry is a registered security association in Finland, founded in 1978, with the main goal of promoting respect for the security field and developing its operational opportunities.
The award committee stated that Mr Savolainen has boldly and openly brought previously sensitive security themes into public debate in both international and domestic contexts. Recent hybrid activities include influencing societal actors and citizens through disinformation, border security issues, and exceptional disruptions to submarine cables. On the day of the award, Mr Savolainen’s message was targeted at companies in particular. He noted that hybrid influencing might be difficult to distinguish from ‘ordinary’ deviations. According to Mr Savolainen, it makes sense for every company to analyze its own key vulnerabilities and to prepare for hostile espionage and influencing that may be underway, or that could be initiated if circumstances permit. “Companies must update their risk and threat assessments. This may be a matter of safeguarding the continuity of operations or, in extreme cases, the very survival of the company. No miracles are needed; all actions must follow sound business logic.”
