An incident response team will be launched as part of a two-day workshop on cyber security being held from August 12.
The Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with a delegation from the of the Organization of the American States’ Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (OAS/CICTE), will host the two-day National Cyber Security Sensitization Workshop on August 12th – 13th, 2015 at the Pegasus Hotel Guyana.
A release from the ministry on Monday said that the major aim of the workshop is to bring together national stakeholders from the public and private sectors as well as civil society to raise awareness of the need to tackle cyber security threats in a comprehensive and strategic partnership.
It said that with plans to broaden the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in schools, protecting children online is a key objective of the Government of Guyana along with supporting the business sector and citizens to expand their technology choices while minimizing risk in accessing new and innovative technologies.
“With organized crime also now using advanced technologies, the Government of Guyana is taking steps to enhance its ability to prosecute high-tech criminals. With the potential also for developing an oil and gas industry and modernizing existing industries, developing capacity for cyber security and cyber resilience is of critical importance”, the statement said.
Two experts from OAS/CICTE will explore other countries’ experiences with developing a National Policy Framework for managing cyber threats and cyber crime.
The release said that sister Caribbean states that have crafted comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategic Plans include Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The release said that while various Government of Guyana Ministries and Agencies as well as members of the private sector are taking individual steps, in order to systematically and effectively address all dimensions of cyber security, it is essential that a strategic private/public partnership be forged to unify and integrate the effort.
One of the outcomes of the workshop is intended to be the formation of a National Task Force to systematically address the country’s cyber security needs.
As part of the workshop, the Guyana National Computer Incident Response Team, a unit within the Ministry of Public Security, will also be launched. A day of specialized technical training in information security and incident management fundamentals will also be held for a select group of ICT professionals from the public and private sectors.
