Hello from the MISTO team — we’re back with a new digest.

This edition focuses on cyber threats, blackouts, and natural disasters that demand fast, coordinated action. Can a city truly be prepared for these challenges? Which tools are shaping resilience, and who is already delivering results? Find out in today’s digest.

Smart City Innovations

Cybersecurity for Smart Cities: Zero-Trust as a Protection Strategy

Digitalization unlocks new opportunities — but also heightens risks. According to the World Economic Forum, 72% of respondents to the Global Cybersecurity Outlook survey report an increase in both the frequency and complexity of cyber threats.

For example, in July 2025 the city of Saint Paul (Minnesota, USA) suffered a major cyberattack that forced officials to shut down parts of its systems, including public Wi-Fi in libraries and social media accounts. In September 2025, hackers targeted an IT solutions provider for European airports, causing flight delays in Brussels, London, and Berlin.

A proven response is the Zero-Trust model, where trust = 0 by default. This means:

• validating every request, regardless of source,
• preventing “chain” attacks across systems,
• strengthening citizen confidence in digital public services.

Within the MISTO platform, Zero-Trust principles are embedded into the architecture by default: from multi-factor authentication to continuous access monitoring. Learn more in our blog: Municipal Data Security | GDPR Compliance with MISTO

From Crisis Management to Anticipatory Governance

The world is becoming less predictable. According to the IBM Institute for Business Value, 60% of government leaders expect crises to occur more frequently, while 70% anticipate an increase in their intensity.

What does this mean for cities? The need to shift toward anticipatory governance — responding before a crisis erupts. In practice, this requires:

1. Leveraging big data, AI, and analytics for precise, real-time action.
2. Broad adoption of cloud technologies.
3. Implementing zero-trust cybersecurity.
4. Coordinated action across all levels: municipality, state, and private sector.
5. Cross-sector partnerships for faster response and recovery.
   

Next-generation solutions such as City-as-a-Service platforms make these principles actionable, ensuring governance that is transparent, agile, and forward-looking.cipalities.

Research spotlight

Open Data — A Catalyst for Transparency and Innovation

Open urban data has long moved beyond the scope of “public registries.” Today, it is a tool that strengthens transparency, builds trust between government and residents, and unlocks greater opportunities for innovation and investment.

Here are a few key facts: 

• EU: In 2023, the European Data Spaces initiative was launched — municipalities are opening datasets in the areas of mobility, energy, and the environment. By 2025, the total volume of global data is projected to increase significantly, reaching 175 zettabytes.
• USA: Participants in the Bloomberg City Data Alliance use data to advance mobility planning and sustainable development.
• Smart Dublin: Transport data has fueled the launch of dozens of startups.
• Stockholm: The open Dataportalen platform stimulates innovation by giving startups access to large-scale municipal datasets.

For municipalities, open data is an investment in transparency, trust, and the creation of new services and startups. Its smart use is the key to resilience and prosperity in smart cities.

Why Stockholm Leads in Innovation and Quality of Life

Stockholm consistently ranks among the world’s most livable and smart cities (Quality of Living City Ranking 2024), thanks to its strong balance of innovation and high living standards. Its model is built on the integration of open data into everyday life — from air quality monitoring to traffic forecasts accessible to both residents and businesses.

Key practices:

• Open environmental data enables citizens to track emissions in real time.
• The Dataportalen Stockholm platform provides access to large-scale datasets, fueling innovation among local startups.
• The city actively engages businesses and universities as partners in testing sustainable development solutions.
  

This model demonstrates that openness + innovation directly enhance quality of life, trust in government, and a city’s competitiveness.

How MISTO Transforms Urban Space and Resident Life 

In March 2025, Odesa became the first Ukrainian city to officially launch the MISTO platform. The result: over 25,000 users in the first month.

What is already in place:

• Integration with Visa: convenient payments directly in the app.
• E-services: from parking to petitions and surveys.
• Public safety: instant alerts on air raids, shelter maps, updates on utility works, and more.

The Odesa case proves that the digitalization of urban services can be rapid, scalable, and aligned with the real needs of the community. MISTO simplifies access to city services, significantly improves communication efficiency, unites residents, and makes the city more comfortable and safer to live in.

That’s all for today from the Resilient City Digest by MISTO — we don’t just talk about the cities of the future, we’re building them together with you! Share in the comments which topics interest you most, and we’ll consider them for the next digest.