Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

ESTONIA

MANUEL SUTER AND ELGIN BRUNNER

Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich, Switzerland

1 CRITICAL SECTORS

Estonia is one of the most rapidly developing information societies in Central and Eastern Europe. Estonia attracted a lot of attention in 2005 when it carried out its first round of internet-based voting in the local government elections of 2005 (in 2007, Estonia even became the first country in the world to feature e-voting in parliamentary elections). These elections were the results of constant and ambitious efforts to foster the information society.

The uninterrupted functioning of information and communication infrastructures (ICTs) provides the basis for such a highly developed information society. Information security and the protection of critical information infrastructures are therefore essential parts of Estonia's security policy.¹

There are following critical sectors as defined by the Emergency Preparedness Act (consolidated text July 2002): “Vitally important sectors and the ministries administering these are the following:

• Maintenance of public order, fire extinguishing and rescue work, organization of protection of data banks—the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Functioning of the energy and gas system, organization of supply with staple goods; organization of telecommunications and postal services, and transport—the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications;
• Organization of supply with foodstuffs—the Ministry of Agriculture;
• Functioning of the ...