CYBER security will be one of the main points of discussion at the 5th Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Policy and Regulation Forum for the Pacific held in Nadi.
During the opening of the forum yesterday, Communications permanent secretary Elizabeth Powell recognised the concerns surrounding cyber security.
"We have to take a serious look at cyber security, which is a growing threat," said Ms Powell.
"Businesses and governments fend off millions of attempts to breach systems every year."
She said if Pacific Island countries were going to provide the advantages of technology to their citizens, they needed to protect them from abuse.
"Protect them from the thieves who would steal their most valuable personal information or disable systems that people depend on," she said.
The 5th Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Policy and Regulation Forum for the Pacific is held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort.
The two-day forum is being attended by experts in telecommunications and information technology from the 38 member states of the APT including Fiji.
The objective of the forum is to evaluate the progress of the decisions taken at the 4th Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific held in Nadi last year.