Ohutu

Ohutu is the name given to an international safety framework established in the early 2020s to promote risk assessment, incident reporting, and safety standards across both digital and physical domains. The term itself derives from the Estonian word ohutu, meaning safe or secure.

Development and governance: Ohutu emerged from a collaboration among national agencies, international organizations, industry groups, and civil society actors seeking harmonized safety guidelines. The governing body, the Ohutu Council, oversees standard development, while a technical secretariat maintains documentation, tools, and certification criteria.

Scope and components: The framework addresses cyber-physical security, data protection, product safety, and operational risk management. Its core components include a risk assessment methodology, an incident reporting portal, certification pathways, and training programs for professionals. Emphasis is placed on interoperability, transparency, and voluntary adoption with incentives for early participation.

Implementation and reception: Regions and sectors have piloted Ohutu programs, with some jurisdictions integrating Ohutu criteria into procurement and compliance regimes. Proponents argue it enhances trust and accelerates remediation, while critics warn of potential regulatory complexity and uneven adoption. Ohutu is intended as a collaborative standard rather than a binding treaty.