Jostein Jensen joins Simula to lead strengthened cybersecurity initiative
Published:
In response to increasing digital vulnerabilities and rapid technological advancements, Simula strengthens its strategic focus on cybersecurity research. Dr. Jostein Jensen is appointed director of the new division.
Jensen brings extensive experience to Simula. Holding a PhD in Information Security from NTNU, he joins Simula from his recent role as Chief Information Security Officer at Norsk Helsenett. His background also includes leadership positions such as Vice President of Cybersecurity and Data Management at Kongsberg Digital and Chief Information Security Officer at Lånekassen.
"Having a background as a researcher and working for many years on the operational side, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to bring the two together. Leading the creation of a division focused on advancing cybersecurity knowledge is incredibly exciting,” says Jensen.
The establishment of this division, under Jensen's direction, will be effective from April 1st 2025.
“We are very happy that Jostein has made the choice to return to research and join Simula. We are confident that his extensive experience within the field of cybersecurity, both as a practitioner and researcher, as well as his solid management experience makes him the ideal candidate to lead our ambitions in cybersecurity,” says Lillian Røstad, CEO of Simula.
Jostein will be responsible for our overall strategy in cybersecurity, in close collaboration with existing research groups.
Simula's already has well-established research groups in cybersecurity. At Simula UiB, research includes cryptography and information theory; at SimulaMet, the focus is on communication security; and software security research is also conducted at Simula. This breadth of expertise will provide a solid foundation for the new divisions strategic work.
Cybersecurity is about more than just technology – it also encompasses organizational structure, corporate culture, and leadership. Many organizations lack insight into which security measures actually work in practice.
"With this initiative, Simula aims to contribute to strengthening Norway's digital total defense, where both public and private entities play crucial roles. Robust cybersecurity is a prerequisite for maintaining critical societal functions," says Røstad.
The new unit will collaborate closely with academia, industry, and government to ensure that research is translated into practical solutions.