National Cyber Security Strategy towards a Secure Cyber Space
Technology is ever changing and the threats surrounding these technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Our increasing dependency on internet-based platforms has opened doors to vulnerabilities and increased cyber threats. While the growth in modern technology has brought about a number of opportunities, those cyber threats have evolved over recent years. This has created the need for public policies that ensures open and safe internet. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“Over the last few years cyber crime is becoming more and more of a priority not just for Belize but across the world. We see cyber attacks happening all over, especially in our region. Some countries, some parliaments have been breached and it takes so many different forms because we are living now in a new digitalized era, the Meta verse so to speak.”
The Government of Belize has identified three priority areas, in an effort to develop the country’s cyber security landscape. They are the development of a national legal framework to address cyber security threats, developing capacity of incident response and infrastructure protection, and the implementation of measures to support education and awareness. All of this is encapsulated within the government’s National Cyber Security Strategy 2020-2023.
Kareem Musa
“As you would know in November of 2020 we passed the Cyber Crime Bill and in February of 2022 we had the introduction and opening of our digital forensic laboratory. But, there are so many things that needs to be done. We need to have a continuous awareness campaign, not just among ourselves but in schools to teach children about all these vulnerabilities and what they post online and that sort of thing.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs, in partnership with a number of its stakeholders, held a cyber crime forum today, to look at the progress that has been made in realizing the goals outlined in the government’s strategy, and to chart out a set of actions for the next six months. The Organization of American States is partnering with the Government of Belize in this effort.
Kerry-Ann Barrett
Kerry-Ann Barrett, O.A.S. Representative
“The Organization of American States has a cyber security program that has been in place since 2004. This program focuses on building the capacity of our member states in policy development. They exercise that here today. We do technical training such as incident response and threat intelligence and we do awareness raising, such as our cyber security symposium which I will welcome all of you to register for after this, as well as publications that are at no cost to our member state. With that said, the O.A.S. Belize has been involved in cyber security as far back as 2006, when we had one of our first events in Miami that was a cyber security and cyber crime workshop. Belize had sent representative there and has continued to send participants showing their interest in developing their cyber security capability.”
The National Cyber Security Strategy Framework allows a government to say to its international partners that its country is serious about addressing its cyber risks. The 2020-2023 framework puts measures in place to protect the country’s network and people. G.O.B. has partnered with UK based Global Partners Digital to make the process more inclusive and transparent.
Daniella Sthnidrig
Daniella Sthnidrig, Global Partners Digital
“I was reminiscing yesterday that I first came to Belize in 2019 and that was the start of the strategy process, but it wasn’t even the start for cyber security as a process for Belize. That had started even before that and I think that shows us two things, first the commitment of the country in improving the cyber capacity and its cyber resilience, but it also as someone said to me once, this process in cyber security is really a marathon. It is not a sprint. So, it is not going to be a quick process. It is not going o be a one off. It is something that requires a lot of commitment and effort.”
Kareem Musa
“As you would know with social media and the advent of social media and the advent of sharing information is now very common, very popular. It happens two, three, four, five times a day, people are sharing their location of way they are and who they are with. Imagine what that could mean people utilizing that information if they have something against you if they want to invade your home and privacy. Very important for us to be cognizant of these things whenever it is that we are going on to social media to be aware that there are predators using these information not just as positive tools but as weapons to come against you.”
Reporting for News Five I am Paul Lopez
