Sikkerhets

Sikkerhets is a Norwegian term generally referring to the state of safety and protection from threats, harm, or loss, and to the measures and systems designed to achieve and maintain that state. In practice, it covers physical security, information security, occupational safety, and national or organizational security. A sikkerhets program seeks to identify risks, select appropriate controls, implement them, and monitor performance to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Key elements include risk assessment, defense-in-depth, incident response, business continuity, and ongoing training. Physical security measures may include access control, surveillance, and secure perimeters; information security covers encryption, access management, and secure software development; and personnel safety addresses training, protective equipment, and safe work practices. National and organizational security often integrates legal, policy, and technological measures to protect critical infrastructure, assets, and populations.

Standards and frameworks commonly used in sikkerhets work include ISO/IEC 27001 for information security management, ISO 31000 for risk management, ISO 22301 for business continuity, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework as a guideline for managing cyber risk. Effective programs emphasize governance, risk management, resilience, and a culture of safety that engages all levels of an organization.

Current trends present challenges such as rapid digitization, increasing cyber threats, supply chain risk, privacy concerns, and the need to balance security with usability and civil liberties. In public policy, sikkerhets considerations influence emergency preparedness, critical infrastructure protection, and law enforcement.