TIETO26 exercise strengthens cooperation in case of emergencies – focus on food supply

Launched in March, TIETO26 is a large-scale information society preparedness exercise that develops information exchange, communication, operational models and situational awareness between companies, public authorities and the third sector during large-scale and far-reaching disruptions.

TIETO26 consists of training days, preliminary assignments for participants and a role-playing game in the autumn of 2026, which involves practising response to simulated disruptions in the information environment, cyber security and the physical world.

The theme of the exercise is the operational conditions of the food supply sector and its supply chains in circumstances where Finland is subject to extensive and long-lasting influence operations and where, in the most tense situations, there is also the possibility of a military threat. One of the objectives of the TIETO26 exercise is to strengthen cooperation in case of emergencies and to keep Finland operational in all circumstances.

Joint exercises strengthen Finland's security of supply

At the heart of national security of supply are the companies that maintain services and production critical to security of supply. The functioning of society is therefore based on networks whose decision-making chains and knowledge management models the TIETO26 exercise is designed to test.

“Collaboration is essential in situations that hinge on information management and speed of response. The TIETO26 exercise gives companies the opportunity to practise and develop their own capabilities in scenarios involving widespread societal disruptions,” says Heli Tammivuori, director of the National Emergency Supply Agency’s Network Cooperation Unit.

Food supply plays a key role in ensuring security of supply and has a pervasive impact on society's ability to function. At the same time, however, the food supply sector is heavily dependent on other sectors. In recognition of this, the exercise involves examining these dependencies and tackling possible disruptions in supply chains. This is why there are also actors from sectors such as water supply, logistics, manufacturing and energy taking part in the exercise.

The preparation of the TIETO26 exercise is contributed to by the authorities and ministries governing the participating sectors, the National Emergency Supply Agency, Traficom’s National Cyber Security Centre, the police, the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. TIETO exercises have been organised since the late 1970s. TIETO exercises are held every other year, and the National Emergency Supply Agency is in charge of organising them. In practice, the exercise is organised by the Digipool of the National Emergency Supply Organisation. The exercise is funded by the National Emergency Supply Agency’s Digital Security 2030 programme.