While much of Finland’s population and infrastructure is concentrated in the south, the country spans over 1,000 kilometres from north to south, making national coverage essential. Its proximity to major Russian centres such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Kola Peninsula presents unique security challenges, particularly with maritime routes playing a vital role, around 96% of imports arrive by sea.
Finland’s security posture is shaped by its desire to be a contributor to regional and NATO stability rather than a consumer of security. This involves maintaining strong national capabilities alongside deepening cooperation with Nordic partners, the EU, and NATO.
The comprehensive security model
The Finnish comprehensive security model is built around seven vital societal functions:
- Internal security
- Defence capability
- Psychological resilience
- Leadership
- International cooperation
- Functional capacity of the population and services
- Economy, infrastructure, and security of supply
These functions are distributed across government ministries and agencies, with clear roles and responsibilities. The model applies equally at the national, regional, and local levels, creating a consistent, integrated approach to risk management.
Critical sectors, including finance and insurance, are embedded within this framework. The National Emergency Supply Agency coordinates sector-specific pools, such as the insurance pool, where companies collaborate to share information, develop contingency plans, and strengthen continuity.
Defence and civil society
Finland maintains a credible defence capability based on general conscription. Around 70% of men complete military service by age 30, with growing voluntary participation among women. This citizen-soldier model, combined with professional forces, provides a cost-effective but capable defence structure. National responsibility remains the foundation, while international cooperation offers additional layers of support.
Psychological resilience is also emphasised, not simply as crisis response, but as a product of long-term investments in education, culture, and shared values. This societal cohesion is seen as essential to sustaining morale and unity under stress.
Real world application
Finland’s model enables quick, coordinated responses to emerging threats. For example, an incident involving a vessel damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea prompted a rapid multi-agency response, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrated maritime monitoring and inter-agency cooperation.
This incident also underscored the importance of maritime security. Disruption of sea lanes, such as what occurred in the Black Sea during the war in Ukraine, could have severe consequences for Finland’s trade and energy supply.
Insurance and risk management
The insurance sector plays a central role in national preparedness. A Joint War Committee helps identify high-risk areas, which can affect insurance costs and availability. State backed guarantees and the National Readiness Act allow for the use of state owned assets during emergencies, ensuring continuity when private sector capacity is disrupted.
Environmental risks, including those linked to climate change, are recognised within the comprehensive model. While specific mechanisms are still evolving, the expectation is that all sectors, including insurers, take an active role in planning for natural disasters and energy disruptions.
