SECURITY FROM FEAR TO KNOWLEDGE

– The major difference from before is that it is individuals who are exposed, rather than, to the same extent, the device they buy. People need to protect themselves when they are online, Petter Strande tells the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen.

He is Nordic business developer at the Finnish company F-Secure, and we meet him before the summer at the Power Up CE training fair at Gardermoen.

– For many years, people have always thought about the devices first, but this change happened a few years ago. Although the media report on scams every day, many people have not fully understood what is actually happening, says Strande.

He believes that security work should focus more on knowledge than fear.

– We should not play on fear. Perhaps that was the case a few years ago, whereas today it is about enabling people to do what they want online without worrying. I think it is more about training than frightening people, says Strande.

He believes the key lies in the way stores communicate.

– A relevant headline is “from device to individual”. This is how we train salespeople, to increase consumers’ understanding, says Strande.

The Total security package

F-Secure provides the Total security package as part of Power’s services.

– Total is our main package and includes all the features we offer, including VPN. We aim to make everything user-friendly and adapted to the ways people use the internet. It has to be simple, and it must be done with powerful tools where the customers are, says Strande.

Training is an ongoing task as the chain takes on new employees.

– There are many people working at Power, and you meet new salespeople all the time. That is why conferences like this are important; here, we can speak to many people at once. It is an excellent arena for learning, says Strande.

Strande points to a high and growing threat landscape.

– We are seeing more fraud. Surveys in Norway show that 9 out of 10 people have been exposed to attempted fraud in the past year. This is something people encounter, and it is about ensuring that they are safe when shopping, browsing or talking to people online, says Strande.

Safe with VPN

F-Secure believes that VPN should be explained through concrete benefits.

– First and foremost, it is about security on open wireless networks, such as at hotels or cafés. With VPN, no one can see what you are doing or sending, and you can be safe when connected to the internet, says Strande.

– Many people also want access to content. If you are travelling, you can access Norwegian content, or vice versa; you can access content and websites abroad. It is both, says Strande.

The market for security services is tough, but Strande believes F-Secure is in a strong position.

– Competition is fierce, and we share the space with many major brands. F-Secure is trusted in the market, we are a Nordic company, and we make products that are easy to use. We have the right features, but it is the simplicity that people appreciate. That is the main reason why we stand out, says Strande.