War Studies The Helsinki Brief: Inside Finnish Intelligence and Security
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Dec 17, 2025 Hannamiina Tanninen, an analyst at Finland's Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) and a PhD researcher, takes us deep into the realm of Finnish intelligence. She discusses SUPO's unique blend of civil and military intelligence, revealing its core functions in counterterrorism and cyber security. Tanninen emphasizes the importance of public trust and the challenges of revealing intelligence work while highlighting Russia and China's cyber threats. She also shares insights on workforce diversity and the role of popular culture in shaping perceptions of intelligence work.
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Analysts Turn Raw Data Into Decisions
- Hannamiina Tanninen describes analysts as the end of the intelligence cycle who synthesize collected data into reports for senior decision-makers.
- SUPO delivers civilian intelligence to the prime minister, president, ministries, businesses and sometimes private individuals.
Civil, Not Criminal, Mandate
- SUPO is Finland's civil intelligence body with statutory powers distinct from military intelligence and does not perform police criminal investigations.
- Its mandate focuses on protecting civil infrastructure and national security under Finnish law.
Small Size Enables Broad Mission
- SUPO combines domestic intelligence and security roles similar to both MI5 and MI6 within one small agency of ~550–570 staff.
- Small size fosters cross-discipline collaboration and fast, hands-on work across intelligence and security functions.