OREANDA-NEWS. The Republic of Moldova has a National Cyber Security Programme. Today, November 13th, 2015, the Government Decision on the approval of National Cyber Security Programme, developed and promoted by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications jointly with the competent authorities, entered into force with its publication in the Official Gazette. The Programme aims to implement the provisions of the Association Agreement Republic of Moldova – European Union, Cyber Security Strategy of the EU, Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime and International Telecommunication Union Recommendations concerning the cyber security of the electronic communications networks and services.

The document is a result of systemic and complex approaches of actions necessary to provide the cyber security of the Republic of Moldova and is based on the best international practices through its harmonization with the European legislation.

The Programme includes 7 areas of intervention:

1)      safe processing, data storage and accessing;

2)      security and integrity of the electronic communication networks and services;

3)      prevention capabilities and emergency response (CERT);

4)      preventing and combating cybercrime;

5)      strengthening cyber defense capabilities;

6)      education and informing;

7)      international cooperation and interaction.

The actions carried out within the intervention areas are oriented towards the implementation of four key components:

         1) introduction of mandatory minimum requirements for cyber security and national cyber security standards regarding processing, storage, transmission and safe access of data;

         2) certification and licensing of specialists and information systems according to the approved standards;

         3) regular performance of cyber security audit of information systems and electronic communications networks within public authorities, and other entities holding information systems of vital importance for the society;

         4) introduction of the penalties and sanctions for the non-compliance with the minimum security requirements and national standards in the field.

At the same time, during the implementation and development of the Programme, the principle of technological neutrality and European principles of cyber security shall be observed: protection of fundamental rights, freedom of speech, personal data and confidentiality, access for all the people to reliable and protected information, cyber resilience of systems, shared and personalized responsibility for the execution of activities to ensure cyber security.

By the implementation of this Programme there shall be created a National functional system of cyber security management, in close cooperation among public authorities, private sector and European bodies in the field. This fact will allow reducing the cyber vulnerabilities and risks, cyber threats and attacks for the Republic of Moldova. Thus, our country shall have an open, safe and secure cyber space.

The draft of the National Cyber Security Programme of the Republic of Moldova was developed by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications, with the support of experts from the Republic of Korea, Republic of Estonia, Kingdom of Sweden, Council of Europe and NATO Industrial Resources and Communication Services Group.

Over last years, cyber incidents and cybercrime, regardless of the borders, gain a higher frequency, complexity and magnitude, bringing enormous damage to the government and private sector and to citizens, the conditions when joint efforts of the governments from different countries to counter these become an absolute necessity.