This transition from physical locks to digital firewalls illustrates the need for robust security measures to protect against evolving threats, playing a critical role in Volvo Group’s transition from a traditional OEM to a competitive digital player.
At #WITswe2025, Volvo Group highlighted the important connection between cybersecurity as a technical challenge and human-centric endeavor, reflecting that cybersecurity is, after all, enabled by people, for people.
Noora Hammar, Head of Cyber Threat Protection Management at Volvo Group, explained what this means in reality. “By understanding what threatens us, we are better equipped to implement the right controls and mechanisms, creating awareness of what we should focus on to make the right decisions to protect ourselves from evolving threats.”
Highlighting rising security challenges in connected vehicles
A focal point for this work in the automotive sector is the rise of autonomous vehicles, which present new challenges, where safety now also encompasses protecting machines from cyber threats, and not only people from physical harm.
To ensure this, security must be integrated into every phase of product development, safeguarding that safety and data protection evolve alongside innovation. The “security by design” principle followed by Volvo Group ensures that both physical and digital systems are resilient from the ground up. This balanced approach allows Volvo Group to shift toward intelligent mobility while maintaining quality, and of course, security.
Sangeetha Raghu, Senior Cybersecurity Engineer at Volvo Group made this clear in her presentation at the #WITswe2025 conference. “Security by design isn’t just a buzzword for us - it’s embedded in every aspect of our product development, ensuring that innovation doesn’t come at the expense of user safety.”
In Volvo Group’s innovative approach to cybersecurity, women play an increasingly important role, currently accounting for around 21% of all cybersecurity roles across our global operations. This is a number that the company is determined to increase over time, understanding the clear benefits of diversity from both a cultural and gender perspective when it comes to solving emerging cybersecurity challenges.
As Volvo Group continues to innovate, the commitment to building safer, smarter, and more resilient machines remains unwavering. This ongoing journey exemplifies how embracing cybersecurity is not just about protection; it is a vital component of digital transformation that enables organizations to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world and digital world.
Watch the focus session from Women in Tech Conference around Cybersecurity: From locks to firewalls - Women In Tech Sweden