We test independently – for a secure digital Switzerland.
Our mission
To minimize cyber risks, we proactively identify critical vulnerabilities and ensure they are remediated – with or without a mandate.
The National Test Institute for Cybersecurity NTC is an independent, non-profit association serving the public interest. As a neutral institution, the NTC proactively identifies critical vulnerabilities in digital products, systems, and new technologies – and promotes their remediation.
Thus, the NTC is closing a critical gap and strengthening Switzerland's digital resilience — driven by conviction and in service of a resilient, sovereign digital Switzerland.
Our Board sets strategic guidelines and develops the NTC for the long term: independence and objectivity are our top priorities, and we work closely with national and international partners.
Since 2023, a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts has been working in the testing laboratory in Zug. We carry out security tests on software, hardware, and connected systems in a structured, thorough, and independent manner, leveraging our in-depth expertise.
The NTC is only as good as its employees. We offer a meaningful environment with responsibility and development opportunities for anyone with specialist knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm for socially relevant technologies.
Web & Mobile Application Security Testing according to OWASP standards (ASVS, MASVS) with a focus on authentication, session management, data validation, and access control.
Hardware & Embedded Security Analysis of hardware components, embedded systems, IoT devices, and chips – with a focus on access protection, tamper resistance, communication interfaces, and physical attack surfaces.
Industrial Control Systems (ICS) & OT Security Testing of industrial control and automation systems, including protocol analysis, device hardening, and segmentation.
Source Code Reviews Analysis of source code for early detection of security-critical vulnerabilities.
Radio & Wireless Equipment Security Security analyses for radio protocols, wireless communication, and radio devices – for example, to secure public authority radio, emergency systems, or remote controls.
Reverse Engineering Technical reconstruction of software or hardware components (e.g., firmware, protocols, closed systems) to identify security risks independently of manufacturer specifications.
Remote Identification & Authentication Analysis and protection of remote identification and authentication procedures – e.g., in government portals, e-ID systems, or IoT remote access.
Security Architecture & Secure Design Reviews Evaluation of system architectures, interfaces, and security concepts in early development phases – e.g., for cloud platforms, critical applications, or e-government solutions.
At our state-of-the-art laboratory in Zug, we perform precise security analyses of connected infrastructures, devices, and applications. Our test environment enables us to perform realistic tests on a wide range of digital systems to ensure a reliable level of security.
The work of the National Test Institute for Cybersecurity NTC is made possible by the support of dedicated partners and supporters. They play a crucial role in enabling us to fulfill our non-profit mission and respond proactively to new digital threats.
As an independent institution, we rely on strong alliances with organizations that are committed to a secure digital Switzerland.
We thank our partners and supporters for their trust and support.
Get involved and support
Would you like to become a partner or supporter of the NTC?
We would be delighted to provide you with information on opportunities for financial, technical, or strategic support. Together, we can build a foundation for a sovereign digital future.
Step by step on the way to a digitally secure Switzerland - this is our story:
May 2025
NTC welcomes additional partners
The NTC continues to expand its strategic base: through new partnerships with public institutions, research institutes, and private donors, the institute has secured additional funding sources for its independent work. This is an important step toward sustainably strengthening the digital resilience in Switzerland.
More than 80 vulnerabilities discovered by the NTC were documented at the launch of the NTC Vulnerability Hub. Because it often takes months from discovery to closure, the Hub represents only a subset of the work in progress.
Since Tobias Castagna started as Head of Test Experts in November 2022, a strong team has grown at the Test Institute site in Zug. The build-up of the staff will continue and qualified applicants are always welcome.
A legal opinion on criminal liability for ethical hacking
The publication of this legal opinion constitutes a contribution by the NTC toward the Confederation’s current national cyberstrategy, which seeks to institutionalize ethical hacking. The legal opinion shows that ethical hacking can only be exempt from prosecution if certain framework conditions are met.
In its initial phase, the NTC is inviting domestic and foreign experts to collaborate in assessing networked products and digital applications for vulnerabilities. As of now, local and international cybersecurity experts are invited to register for the competence network.
Unanimous positive decision of Cantonal Council of the Canton of Zug
The Cantonal Council of Zug decided positively and unanimously on 31 March 2022 to allocate CHF 7.55 million to support and establish the National Cyber Security Test Institute NTC.
On behalf of the National Cyber Security center NCSC, the NTC audits the functionalities and security of the Swiss Covid certificate system. On behalf of an IT service provider for medical, the security of its services was audited.
