Cybercrimes are an increasing threat to our administrations; one only has to look around the region to see examples of this.
This sentiment was shared by the Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Henry Puna in his official remarks at the inaugural Pacific Cyber Capacity Building and Coordination Conference in Nadi yesterday.
“The Vanuatu government’s IT system was effectively shut down late last year, the Republic of Marshall Islands faced a similar attack a few months prior,” Mr Puna informed regional participants.
“Millions of Australians have lost personal information in attacks on Optus and Medibank Private. ”
Indeed, it is a sad fact that every day, thousands of criminals go to work with the sole intention of inflicting harm on innocent people across the globe, including here in the Blue Pacific Continent.
“We cannot, and will not, let them win.”
Mr Puna explained the launch of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent last year painted a vision for a future in which people of the region benefit from access to affordable, safe and reliable ICT infrastructure, systems and operations.
He said in doing so, it was also vital to ensure the presence of culturally sensitive user-protection and cyber security.
“It is fair to say that we have many challenges ahead in the way we develop, use and secure our technology,” Mr Puna said.
“Yet we also have a plan to meet those challenges head on. ”
A clear sentiment that has emerged from the discussions over the last two weeks is the recognition that while the digital evolution has presented many opportunities, in particular, for island states such as ours, the challenges and complexities that come with the digital evolution require specialised capacities to manage it.”
