The Ministry for Information Society and Administration, Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior- together drafted a working version of the National Strategy for Cyber Security of the Republic of Macedonia. The debate already started in electronic form, by giving proposals, recommendations and commentaries at the electronic address [email protected] and tomorrow the first public event of this process is being held.
The first public debate will be held at the MPs Clubhouse in Skopje, starting at 10 o’clock, where the strategy will be presented. The event will be attended by Minister of Information Society and Administration, Damjan Manchevski, Minister of Defense, Radmila Shekerinska and Minister of Interior, Oliver Spasovski.
In the at 38 draft, the need for a new approach to cyber security is high, as there is a huge unwillingness to deal with cyber threats to both citizens and businesses, and the threats are getting more numerous. In contrast, there is a lack of experts and a huge flow of information coming from or coming to the citizens or companies, therefore the strategy envisages a significant increase in the capacities to protect data from individuals and other entities with criminal intentions by using state funds to develop adequate defense.
According to the strategy, in the first quarter of 2017, 73.6 percent of households had access to the Internet, and for companies with 10 or more employees, that figure was 91.2 percent. This imposes a need for better familiarization of users with the measures of protection, especially in the companies, some of which work for the state, and the risks that pose a threat to these firms also mean risks of endangering the country’s data. Also, the Internet is more and more common, that is, connecting a variety of devices on the Internet, which can be attacked and therefore jeopardize not only their functioning, but also the safety of their owners.
The cyber security strategy provides for enhanced cross-sectoral measures to address threats through five measures. It is an increase in cyber resistance and an increase in cyberspace, a more adequate fight against cyber crime, then reinforcing cyber defense and greater cooperation between institutions.
Also, the establishment of a National Council for Cyber Security has been envisaged as an independent body, a body with operational facilities for cyber security.
This text is made within the framework of the project “Media Reform Observatory”, implemented by the Foundation for Internet and Society Metamorphosis, “Agora” Center for Promoting Civil Values and the Platform for Investigative Journalism and Analyzes – PINA, with the financial support of the “Foundation Open” Society – Mace
donia “. The content of the text is the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be considered to reflect the views of the “Open Society Foundation – Macedonia”.
