Network as a Service in a Nordic Perspective

From infrastructure ownership to operational control 

The Nordic region runs some of the world’s most digitalized and distributed infrastructure environments. Energy grids across remote terrain. Industrial production is integrated with cloud systems. Public services expected to operate without interruption.

In this context, network stability is not an IT metric. It is an operational requirement. At the same time, the network has become one of the most exposed parts of the organization. Hybrid work, OT/IT convergence, cloud adoption and increased regulatory pressure have expanded the attack surface. For CISOs, the network is no longer transport. It is a control plane. Yet many organizations still operate their networks under legacy ownership models designed for a different risk landscape.

Network as a Service (NaaS) represents a structural shift — from managing infrastructure components to managing operational outcomes.

Why this matters now? 

Across the Nordic region, regulatory expectations are increasing. The NIS2 Directive raises requirements for risk management, documentation, incident handling and accountability — particularly for operators of essential and important services. 

This changes the role of the network.

The network must now support: 

• Continuous availability across geographically distributed environments 

• Security controls embedded at every layer 

• Auditability and traceability 

• Documented operational governance 

• Integration with SOC and incident response processes 

Owning hardware does not equal controlling risk. 

Operational control does. 

What NaaS actually changes 

Network as a Service is often reduced to a subscription model. That misses the point. 

In a mature NaaS model, the shift is structural: 

From periodic upgrades 
to continuous lifecycle management 

From fragmented responsibility 
to defined operational ownership 

From reactive troubleshooting 
to monitored and documented operations 

The organisation no longer manages network infrastructure as assets. It consumes network capability as a governed service. 

That distinction is critical for CISOs. 

Because accountability remains internal. 
But operational complexity does not have to. 

The reality: distributed, regulated, exposed 

Nordic organizations face specific structural challenges: 

• Long geographic distances and remote sites 

• Critical infrastructure dependencies 

• Harsh environmental conditions 

• High digital adoption 

• Strong regulatory alignment with EU frameworks 

• Limited specialised network competence in-house 

This combination increases operational risk.
Security incidents in distributed environments are rarely caused by lack of technology. They are caused by lack of visibility, inconsistent configuration and unclear ownership.

A structured NaaS model addresses those weaknesses directly.

Network as a Service (NaaS) for distributed and critical environments

For organisations operating across industry, energy, public sector, retail and hospitality, the value of NaaS lies in operational discipline.

A modern model includes: 

• Standardised and pre-validated architectures 

• Centralised monitoring and incident handling 

• Embedded security controls 

• Automated patching and lifecycle management 

• Full documentation and reporting 

• 24/7 operational coverage 

The result is not convenience. It is reduced operational uncertainty. 

Security is not an add-on 

In a Nordic NaaS model aligned with regulatory expectations, security must be foundational: 

• Zero Trust principles 

• Microsegmentation 

• Encrypted connectivity 

• Secure remote access 

• Continuous monitoring 

• Integration with SOC/MDR services 

• Compliance and audit reporting 

Security posture improves not because of new tools, but because governance becomes systematic. This is particularly relevant for organization’s preparing for or adapting to NIS2-aligned national implementations across Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

NaaS versus traditional ownership 

Traditional network ownership requires: 

• Capital investment cycles 

• Upgrade projects 

• Internal specialist competence 

• Decentralised incident handling 

• Manual documentation processes 

This model often leads to: 

• Configuration drift 

• Security blind spots 

• Inconsistent lifecycle management 

• Dependence on key individuals 

With NaaS, responsibility for daily operations shifts to a defined service framework. 

The organization retains accountability and governance — but removes fragmentation. 

Secure Network Services as a structured model 

NetNordic delivers NaaS through Secure Network Services (SNS): a Nordic-developed, vendor-neutral operational framework. 

SNS is designed for organisations where downtime is unacceptable. 

It combines: 

• Networking 

• Security 

• Operational governance 

Into one structured model with clear ownership, defined SLAs and transparent reporting. 

This is not outsourcing visibility. 

It is formalizing control. 

Business impact beyond cost 

While moving from CapEx to OpEx improves financial predictability, the real value for CISOs and executive leadership lies elsewhere:

• Stronger operational resilience 

• Reduced dependency on individuals 

• Faster response to incidents 

• Improved audit readiness 

• Defined accountability structures 

• Consistent security enforcement 

In distributed Nordic environments, these factors often outweigh pure cost considerations. 

What CISOs should evaluate in a NaaS provider 

Not all NaaS offerings support regulatory and operational maturity. 

Key evaluation criteria include: 

• Vendor-neutral architecture 

• Full transparency into logs, configurations and events 

• Defined SLAs with 24/7 monitoring 

• Security-by-design alignment with NIS2 

• Clear governance model 

• Data residency within the Nordic region 

• Local operational expertise 

The objective is not to remove control. 

It is to institutionalize it. 

Network as a Service for Nordic conditions 

In the Nordic region, operational stability is a prerequisite for trust  — whether in energy supply, public services or digital commerce.

NaaS is not about simplifying networking. It is about aligning network operations with today’s risk landscape. For organizations operating critical or distributed environments, the question is no longer whether the network should be managed. The question is whether it is managed structurally enough.

NetNordic NaaS is built on that premise:

Control first — complexity second. Ready for the next step? Please get in contact with us, and we are happy to discuss the best fit and solution for your organization and team.