The
field of Cyber security always fascinates me as its crucial for both digital
government`s security and international security—areas of my interest. In state
of union address, Barack Obama called cyber security as top priority. As
illustrated in the following video, he talked about potential enemies who are
seeking to sabotage the US financial systems and power grids”. State networks
remain under attack because it is very difficult to assess skills of . Hence
importance of Intrusion detection and detection is mandatory against cyber
security. is inevitable.
I
was wondering what part the state and local governments can play to tackle
cyber threats and implement cyber security? How can they avert cyber threats from criminal hackers who endeavor to
commit frauds, steal personal information (Social Security numbers, credit card
information) of citizens, foreign agents who hack a country’s enterprises to
steal away valuable research and development data or confidential business
information?
I explored websites
addressing the cyber security issues that governments can take various steps to
manage these risks. For instance a country can devise a state or city cyber
security strategy to evaluate the most critical state assets that need utmost
protection like critical utilities and emergency response systems. A state can
also entrust its state or local Chief Information Officer (CIO) and formulate a
government-wide cyber security Committee to collaborate on programs, priorities
and resources and encourage a government-wide culture of cyber security.
Then I came across a news article that
discussed Pakistan`s government initiatives to implement aforementioned
cyber security strategies to set up a “cyber authority” that would be a special
court to tackle cyber crime and all such related disputes. Also Pakistan`s
government is keen to establish an emergency unit to counter attacks that are
contrary to Pakistan’s interests. The laws for these two bodies would be implemented
through a consolidated compendium known as the Electronic Documents and
Prevention of Cyber crimes Act, 2014 that also aims to update several other
laws related to information technology or cyber activity by formulating a
consolidated piece of law to fight against crime and to encourage electronic
and computerized businesses via legal documents, e-signatures, etc. The
final 30-page draft of the Electronic Documents and Prevention of Cyber crimes
Act, 2014 includes cyber crime, crimes and terrorism committed against the
state with the help of advance technological means. Under Article 10 of the
Constitution, the law endeavors to form a 7-member corporate body known as the
Cyber Authority of Pakistan that will effectively cater all issues connected with
cyber activity through its expert glass prism and also avert and contain cyber
crimes effectively and resourcefully. The Cyber Authority will be entrusted
authority to conduct training for cyber-protection and cyber-investigation
teams. The government will form a Cyber Emergency Response Team headed by the
secretary of information technology, consisting of two experts to quickly
handle cyber-security issues of national significance and also bridge the gulf
between the government and the Cyber Authority. Because of the critical nature
of crimes, under this act the government will also establish a Cyber Tribunal
headed by a chairperson and consisting of well-known judges and lawyers of high
courts and information technology experts hailing from the fields of internet
services, cryptography and telecommunications.
I
believe the Pakistani government deserves an applaud to take such a step
because apart from some legislative models present in east Asia and the West,
such a regulatory authority would be first of its kind in the region.
Also it is a commendable measure to avert cases in which persons misuse
electronic devices to attack national infrastructure and pose a threat to the
interests of the state.
References:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1091640/pakistan-formulating-cyber-security-strategy
http://americancityandcounty.com/security/state-and-local-governments-have-important-roles-play-managing-cyber-risks
http://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/Implementing-the-Cybersecurity-Framework-within-state-and-local-Governments.html
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