ITSL Solutions has been awarded funding by MSB to develop a technical reference architecture for SaaS providers that handle classified information. “An important breakthrough for improving security in public sector solutions,” says CEO Fredrik Jonasson.
Out of more than 180 applications, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (Myndigheten för samhällsskydd och beredskap, MSB) has chosen to finance 37 cybersecurity projects led by small and medium-sized enterprises.
One of the selected projects is led by the tech startup ITSL Solutions from Sundsvall. The project aims to strengthen the public sector’s ability to meet legal requirements and security challenges.
“This confirms that MSB believes in our digital collaboration platform, Hubs, which enables sensitive information to be transferred digitally in a secure manner,” says CEO Fredrik Jonasson.
As part of the project, a range of security requirements will be analyzed in collaboration with leading cloud providers and other SaaS vendors to develop an architecture that security-conscious authorities can accept while remaining cost-effective for smaller municipalities.
The reference architecture will be demonstrated in a proof-of-concept solution for secure digital communication.
“The work is valuable both for the continued development of our solution and for building broader trust that SaaS providers can deliver secure services,” says Fredrik Jonasson.
Last autumn the agency Digg, which manages the national federation SDK (Secure Digital Communication), approved Hubs. This approval means municipalities and regions connected to the SDK federation can use the platform.
The approval has opened the door to a very large market for ITSL Solutions.
“In 2025 we will present Hubs at a number of trade shows. First up is the Solutions for the Public Sector fair in Kista on January 22–23,” Jonasson says.
Beyond secure information transfer, the platform includes collaboration tools and specialized features tailored for the public sector.
“Everything is based on open source, which allows us to deliver a flexible and cost-effective solution,” says Fredrik Jonasson.
Despite ongoing digitalization, the public sector still relies on fax and physical envelopes to send confidential information.
This ranges from data needed for care planning in eldercare to assessments of applications for financial support within social services, as well as police reports of concern to social services.
Legal obstacles and a lack of secure digital alternatives have been the primary reasons for continued use of older methods.
The project funded by MSB seeks to address these barriers by providing a validated, secure reference architecture that SaaS providers can implement. By aligning technical requirements with regulatory expectations and practical cost considerations, the initiative aims to make modern, secure digital workflows attainable even for smaller municipalities and agencies.
If successful, the reference design and its proof-of-concept demonstration could accelerate the replacement of insecure channels with robust digital processes—improving efficiency, reducing administrative burden, and protecting citizens’ sensitive information more effectively.