Cyberwarfare / Nation-State Attacks
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Events
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Fraud Management & Cybercrime
NCC Group’s Katharina Sommer on Why Nations Are Turning Inward on Cyber Defense
Geopolitical instability is changing the way nations handle cybersecurity. Katharina Sommer, group head of government affairs and analyst relations at NCC Group, said global alliances have fractured, prompting countries to focus on national interests. This retreat from international cooperation has direct consequences for cybersecurity.
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Countries that once sought joint strategies and harmonized policies are now prioritizing domestic cyber capabilities, Sommer said. The shift is leading to fragmented regulations that create uncertainty for cross-border organizations and hinder unified defense efforts.
“There is a real focus on sovereign solutions, what countries can do for themselves, how they can big up their own cybersecurity industry,” Sommer said. “We’re seeing a massive fragmentation of the landscape, which obviously makes it quite difficult, if you’re an organization operating across border, to know what you need to comply with and what the rules of the road look like in the future.”
In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Infosecurity Europe 2025, Sommer also discussed:
- The growing focus on secure-by-design principles for product-level security;
- How industry experts are shaping regulations through engagement at conferences;
- Efforts to simplify incident reporting mandates.
Sommer has more than 15 years of experience in public affairs, public policy, strategic communications and cybersecurity. She leads NCC Group’s political engagement, government relations and lobbying work, educating policymakers on cybersecurity and internal audiences on political developments and priorities.
