Case Study: Information Flow Resilience of a Retail Company with Regard to the Electricity Scenarios of the Sicherheitsverbundsübung Schweiz (Swiss Security Network Exercise) SVU 2014

Abstract

The Sicherheitsverbundsübung Schweiz 2014 tested the availability of critical infrastructures. The present case study examines the extent to which one of the largest retailers in Switzerland will be able to continue operations under this scenario. Various interviews, simulations and process categorizations were undertaken to this end. The findings clearly demonstrate that with a short-term black-out, damages incurred by the retailers focused on here quickly exceed the 100 million Swiss franc mark. Meanwhile, a longer power shortage situation would probably be an existential threat. Under these preconditions, it becomes obvious that the security of the food supply for the Swiss population via organised channels will not be guaranteed. The problem analysis clearly conveys that awareness as to critical infrastructures has far from reached decision maker level and that the resilience of processes has been weakened further due to strategic decisions.