The evolving security landscape and increasing regulatory requirements are driving growing demand for protective security across both the public and private sectors. HiQ is strengthening its offering in this area by appointing Anders Spalding as Head of Protective Security. 

Anders Spalding has a background as an intelligence officer in the Swedish Armed Forces and brings over 15 years of experience in intelligence operations and military security and counterintelligence. He has subsequently worked in protective security, both as a consultant and in a role responsible for personnel security at Bankgirot. 

– Requirements for protective security are increasing rapidly, while many organisations lack the experience and structure needed to meet them. With Anders, we are strengthening our ability to support clients in managing these demands, both operationally and strategically, says Pernilla Rönn, Head of Cybersecurity at HiQ. 

This initiative also reflects growing demand from existing clients, where security has become a more central part of operations. 

– Protective security is an area where many organisations are undergoing a shift. It is not enough to comply with regulations. Organisations also need to understand how threats emerge in practice. I look forward to contributing that perspective, says Anders Spalding. 

HiQ strengthens its position across the full security spectrum 
As total defence considerations become more prominent, an increasing number of organisations are subject to protective security legislation. This places greater demands on everything from security vetting and background checks to long-term efforts to identify and mitigate insider-related risks. 

With this appointment, HiQ strengthens its position across the full security spectrum, from cybersecurity to protective security and national security. 

– Security needs to be managed as a whole. With this initiative, we can support our clients across all areas, from information security to personnel security and physical security, says Pernilla Rönn. 

On 8 October, Sweden’s leading decision-makers and experts will gather at DI’s Tech Strategy Summit in Stockholm. There, HiQ’s business area managers Sofie Perslow (AI) and Pernilla Rönn (Cybersecurity) will lead a deep-dive session on one of today’s most pressing questions: how to balance innovation and security in the AI era.

AI is driving development at a rapid pace – but new opportunities also bring new threats. How can companies and organisations maximise AI’s potential while protecting themselves against the risks? What does it take to stay ahead, both technically and from a regulatory perspective? And how far are we really prepared to go?

In the session Cybersecurity & AI: Balancing Threats and Innovation, Sofie Perslow and Pernilla Rönn will share their insights on security strategies, regulatory pitfalls, and future perspectives on the threats and opportunities around the corner.

As a premium partner to Dagens Industri, we are proud to contribute to these important discussions on how to navigate the intersection of business value and security.

Date: 8 October 2025 (HiQ’s deep-dive session: 14:00–14:20)
Location: Vinterträdgården, Grand Hôtel, Stockholm – Tech Strategy Summit 2025
Read more about the event here: Tech Strategy Summit 2025

We look forward to a day full of inspiration and new perspectives on how we can drive safe and sustainable innovation together. See you there?

HiQ and RISE have signed a memorandum of understanding, marking the start of a close collaboration in the field of cybersecurity. The aim is to jointly advance competence development and to drive technical innovation and knowledge sharing to strengthen Sweden’s digital resilience.

The Swedish government’s recently announced SEK 1 billion (approx. EUR 90 million) investment in cybersecurity underlines the urgent need to boost resilience across society. Against this backdrop, HiQ and RISE are joining forces to combine the capabilities of Cyber Range – a testbed operated by RISE that provides a fully controlled virtual environment – with HiQ’s extensive experience in secure system development, DevOps, and connected products.

Together, the parties aim to create new opportunities for training, simulation, and knowledge exchange, while fostering collaboration between research, industry, and society.

“Through continuous exercises, training, and risk analysis, we create better conditions for organizations to prepare for and handle cyber threats in an increasingly complex reality. In Cyber Range, organizations can test their systems and develop their capabilities in a safe and isolated environment,” says Karl Resare, Business Developer for Cyber Range at RISE.

“The Swedish government’s investment shows that cybersecurity is a national priority. But resilience is built in practice. We see a strong need to build bridges between technology, operations, and education – and this collaboration is an important step in that direction. It also provides us with a fantastic opportunity to turn theory into practice together with customers and partners,” says Pernilla Rönn, Head of Cybersecurity at HiQ.

The joint work will include cybersecurity exercises and simulations, as well as the exchange of experiences, data, and insights related to threat analysis, incident management, and secure system design. It will also involve training sessions and workshops in cybersecurity for external audiences.

Kammarkollegiet has once again selected HiQ as a framework agreement supplier for IT security. The new agreement enables government agencies and other public sector organizations across Sweden to procure HiQ’s expertise in a domain that is critical to protecting vital infrastructure and essential digital systems.

HiQ is one of the suppliers awarded a framework agreement following a procurement process conducted by Kammarkollegiet in spring 2025. The objective of the procurement is to meet the growing need for cybersecurity expertise at a time when the digitalization of essential services places increasing demands on security, resilience, and availability.

“Kammarkollegiet’s renewed trust in HiQ shows that we continue to meet the high standards required in this field. We have a long-standing track record of building and securing technical solutions that play a crucial role in the functioning of society,” says Pernilla Rönn, Head of Cybersecurity at HiQ.

For three decades, HiQ has worked with complex digital development for both public and private sector clients – often in environments where technology must be robust and reliable, whether supporting public services, critical infrastructure, or financial systems. The new framework agreement, which runs for up to four years starting in March 2026, covers the development and management of IT infrastructure and systems, as well as the implementation of technical security solutions. This includes, for example, information security, identity and access management, code review, risk analysis, GDPR-related advisory services, training, and the development of methods for continuous security management. The total maximum call-off value across the eight selected suppliers is SEK 700 million.

In addition to IT security, HiQ is also an approved supplier under several of Kammarkollegiet’s national framework agreements for digital consultancy services – including IT consultancy solutions, and architecture and development. This makes it easier for public sector organizations to coordinate their digital needs with a single partner that understands the bigger picture and takes end-to-end responsibility – from strategy and development to implementation and operations.

“We combine deep technical expertise with a holistic approach, making it easier for our clients to embrace the opportunities of digitalization in a secure and sustainable way. Being trusted again in such a critical area as IT security is a testament to our ability to meet the stringent demands placed on technology used in vital parts of society. It’s a growing responsibility – one we embrace with specialist competence and long-term commitment,” says Peter Arrhenius, CEO at HiQ.