Music Basel budgets CHF 500,000 to defend against cyber attacks

The Basel cantonal government has announced the expected expenditure for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in detail. For example, the government has requested half a million francs for the defense against cyber attacks.

The Grand Council will decide on the net expenditure of around CHF 35 million on September 11. The Government Council expects the largest expenditure item to be around CHF 14.6 million for infrastructure and the loss of revenue in the St. Jakob area, as it wrote in a statement on Saturday night.

For the area of security, rescue and cyber security, it anticipates expenditure of around CHF 7.9 million. Cyber defense is playing an increasingly important role at an international event. The cantonal IT infrastructure, which includes the St. Jakobshalle, is to be protected against attacks in advance.

The canton is expecting tens of thousands of fans. The cantonal government expects the ESC 2025 to generate "considerable" financial added value.