Need for more collaboration to combat cybercrime
THE need for more collaboration and information-sharing to combat cybercrime has been highlighted as a priority amongst the Pacific Island law officers Network (PLON).
Ministry of Communications acting permanent secretary, Tupou’tuah Baravilala, while speaking at the 4th Annual Pacific Islands law officers Network (PLON) stressed Government’s continued commitment to ensure that people have access to meaningful connectivity in a secure cyberspace and, to utilise the vast opportunities that the internet provides.
She also highlighted the need for closer collaboration in the collective fight against cybercrime.
With the theme ‘Combating cybercrime: Trends and Tools in a Changing World, Ms
Baravilala highlighted that digital technologies continue to accelerate, and with it, cybersecurity risks continue to become more evident.
“The shift to online spaces has presented a challenge - the attack surface area has increased. Digital technologies continue to accelerate, and with it, cybersecurity risks continue to become more evident. We have seen emerging and evolving threats which are transboundary in nature, and which have an impact on international peace and security and thereby, placing cybersecurity as a priority,” Ms Baravilala said.
She emphasised the need to ensure that cybersecurity measures are robust and agile, have stronger protection tools in place so that recovery can be swift and business operation disruptions are minimised should an attack succeed.
Ms Baravilala also called for the need to create a culture of cyber hygiene practices amongst the people.
“It requires all of us, proactively synergising our efforts, and implementing cyber security safeguards and measures. Only then, can we turn the tide on these cyber threat actors which are a threat to peace, security, prosperity and the well-being of our people,” Ms Baravilala said.
She then urged participants at the workshop that in order to improve cybersecurity capabilities and readiness across the Pacific, everyone needs to collaborate and make the most of existing regional networks such as this PILON, the Pacific Cybersecurity Operational Network and the Pacific Transnational Crime Network through collaboration and information-sharing between these networks.