MITA
The Maltese Government, in collaboration with MITA, has launched a National Cyber Security Strategy which will serve as a framework to protect systems, networks and information on the internet, together with the people who make use of these services respectively.
During the launch at MITA's Data Centre, Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Maritime and Services Economy, Emmanuel Mallia said that Malta was listed by the European Commission as one of the countries in the European Union which have developed quickly towards an economy and society that embraces the digital world. Nonetheless, Minister Mallia said that technology can be used with bad intentions and for this reason Government is introducing this strategic framework that acts like a shield against potential threats.
The Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the National Cyber Security Strategy, Mr Anthony Gatt also addressed those present and said that the strategy had been proposed in Digital Malta - the National Digital Strategy for the years 2014-2020. He also remarked that it was requested by the EU Directive on the security of networks and IT systems which has just entered in force in the European Union.
Mr Gatt gave an overview of the four fundamental principles upon which the strategy is based, namely the respect towards fundamental rights and obligations according to Maltese and EU laws; the collective responsibility between Government, the private sector and citizens and the need for co-operation and collaboration between them; and the evaluation and risk-management required for the right measures to be taken in this sector.
He also said that the strategy has six main goals which include the drafting of the organisational and strategic framework; the strengthening of the fight against cyber crime; the drafting and amendment of the legislative and regolatory aspect together with national security; initiatives which encourage measures to be taken by the private sector; awareness and education; and co-operation and co-ordination in our country, on a European level and also on a global level.
MITA's Head of the Governance, Risk and Compliance Department, Mr Rodney Naudi explained the challenges that are addressed through this strategy, the principles on which it was drafted and the way forward for the strategy to be implimented and kept alive in view of the rapid pace of advances in the sector. He also described how different types of cyber attacks can be originating from different organisations or persons which have different intentions. Mr Naudi explained that in cyber security there are no boundaries and for this reason he said that it is important that the necessary measures are taken to ensure that there is co-operation and co-ordination on a national, European and global level.