Stefan Albertsson, AddSecure

Hello CEO: Stefan Albertsson, AddSecure

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The dramatic spread of the coronavirus pandemic around the world has had and continues to have a major impact on society, business and the individual. But it has not all been doom and gloom; in the midst of all the misery, the corona crisis has demonstrated the strength of digitalization and our member companies have from day one joined forces and stood ready to facilitate all parts of society.  

Our 1,350 members range from small start-ups with few employees to large multinational companies with thousands of employees around the world. Under the banner "Hello CEO", we gather their views on the past year, their thoughts on the future, but also lessons and experiences from a time unlike any other. After Åse Holmberg, CEO of Sentor, and Karin Schreil, CEO of TietoEvry, it's time for Stefan Albertsson of AddSecure.

How would you sum up the past year, largely marked by the coronavirus pandemic?

- The past year has been a very special year for everyone, including AddSecure. Corona has strongly driven the digitalization of society at large. The increased number of connected devices means an increased need for secure and reliable solutions and secure data. Our customers need to be able to manage their digitized business in a secure, simple and fast way and our IoT solutions, which focus on secure critical communication and data, help them with this.

- A relevant example is medical transportation, which due to its sensitivity needs to comply with strict rules and regulations. Our telematics and temperature monitoring solutions ensure that our customers in the transportation industry have extra protection and assurance that critical, life-saving goods, such as vaccines, retain their quality throughout transportation and are delivered intact.

What lessons have you learned and what will you take away?

- The acceleration of digitization in society shows not only that the change that was expected to take years has taken place at record speed, but also that a rapid transition can increase the competitiveness of many companies. At the same time, it is more important than ever to be able to handle business-critical data and communication securely. This is where we at AddSecure have an important role to play.

- The adaptation we have made to our own operations, i.e. a way of working that is even more adapted to meetings and collaborations in a digital environment, will remain in place even after the pandemic, with a reduced share of work trips and physical customer meetings and with flexible workplaces and the possibility to work from home.

Looking ahead, how do you see the immediate future?

- We believe that the long-term trends and needs that have accelerated over the past year will continue. The amount of data classified as critical will increase and with it the need to be able to handle critical data from point A to B in a secure, simple and fast way. In addition to increased data collection, the technology shift to 4G and 5G will bring opportunities for new applications and services.

- AddSecure is well positioned to create value and capture growth in the rapidly growing IoT market. We have a stable and scalable business model and we stand ready for continued growth together with our customers. Together we can make the world both safer and smarter.

Have you seen any tangible benefits from your membership of IT&Telecom during the crisis?If so, which ones?

- Access to business intelligence, for example on what laws and regulations may affect us at both national and EU level, is always very valuable. So is the opportunity to jointly pursue issues that are important to the industry and to network with industry colleagues and experts. At AddSecure, we see the Sustainability Council in particular as an important force in promoting digitization and our industry as an enabler of sustainable development for the whole of society.