Overview

  • Author: Sven Ziegler
  • Source: Bluewin
  • Date: 30.11.2025
  • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Summary

During one of the largest national crisis exercises in early November 2025, the central IT situation monitoring system of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) collapsed multiple times. Cantons were temporarily unable to access current information, which massively hindered crisis management. The failure intensifies criticism of the office's leadership and reveals structural deficits in the digitalization of civil protection.

  • The FOCP's central situation monitoring system failed multiple times on November 6, 2025 during a major crisis exercise
  • Cantons temporarily had no access or only slow access to critical situation information
  • Similar problems occurred during the last exercise in 2024
  • An internal audit report warns that cyberattacks or power outages could paralyze essential parts of the alert system
  • Criticism is directed at FOCP Director Michaela Schärer for lack of progress in modernization
  • During a nuclear power plant exercise in Gösgen, the alert center sent contradictory information
  • The Federal Council backs the director despite criticism, cantons demand faster action

Opportunities and Risks

Opportunities

  • Weaknesses become visible through exercises and can be fixed before real crises
  • Political pressure can accelerate necessary reforms and investments in IT infrastructure
  • Audit report provides concrete starting points for improvements
  • Cantons clearly articulate their requirements for functioning systems

Risks

  • In a real emergency, the failure of the situation monitoring system could massively hinder crisis management
  • Repeated failures undermine trust between the federal government and cantons
  • Federal budget cuts could further delay necessary modernization
  • Critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants is particularly vulnerable during disruptions
  • Lack of accountability and priorities block digital transformation

Future Outlook

Short-term (1 year): The FOCP is under increased pressure to stabilize IT systems and conduct further exercises without failures. The political debate over leadership and resources will intensify.

Medium-term (5 years): Either a fundamental modernization of digital infrastructure in civil protection succeeds, or repeated failures lead to personnel and structural consequences at the FOCP.

Long-term (10–20 years): Switzerland must massively expand its resilience against cyberattacks and hybrid threats. Without functioning digital situation monitoring systems, federal crisis management will become impossible.

Fact Check

Well Documented

  • IT failure on November 6, 2025 is confirmed by the FOCP
  • Similar problems during the 2024 exercise are documented
  • Existence of a critical internal audit report
  • Contradictory information during nuclear power plant exercise in Gösgen
  • Cantons publicly express dissatisfaction

Missing Data or Transparency

  • Exact extent of failures and affected cantons unclear
  • Specific contents of audit report not public
  • No figures on investments or budget cuts provided
  • Results of internal satisfaction surveys not transparent
  • [⚠️ Still to verify]: Whether technical or organizational causes are responsible for failures

Brief Conclusion

The repeated failure of the central IT system during crisis exercises reveals serious weaknesses in Swiss civil protection. The cantons are losing confidence in the FOCP's leadership, while the security policy situation is becoming more tense. The federal government must now decide whether to provide the necessary resources for functioning digital infrastructure or remain incapable of acting in a real emergency.

Three Key Questions

  1. Freedom: How much transparency about vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure can a democracy tolerate without informing potential attackers?

  2. Responsibility: Who bears political responsibility when budget cuts endanger the functionality of civil protection – Parliament, the Federal Council, or the office leadership?

  3. Innovation: Why is the FOCP unable to implement modern, robust IT systems while the private sector has long been using resilient cloud solutions?