The Solomon Islands Government through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation in partnership with the Governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand launched a Solomon Islands Computer Emergency Response Team (SICERT) project in collaborative efforts to combat cybersecurity threats in the country.
As part of the Government’s cybersecurity policy, and in light of the ever-increasing availability and accessibility to Information technology and internet-enabled services, prioritizing cybersecurity initiatives is critically important for the Solomon Islands.
The National Cybersecurity Policy was launched on August 20 last year which has enabled today’s launch, marking the start of delivering the National Cybersecurity Policy objective 2 aimed at “Strengthening existing Organizational Structures related to Cybersecurity”.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, Alwyn Danitofea highlighted that “in the continuously evolving digital world, cybersecurity is no longer a nice-to-have, but a critical obligation.
“We are all aware that our dependency on technology has created new vulnerabilities, and threats at an alarming rate, impacting individuals, businesses, governments, and critical infrastructure not only in the Solomon Islands but throughout the world,” he said.
He added that with the change and growth in the Solomon Islands digital landscape, everyone is a prime target for cyberattacks, and protecting our systems and data is not just a technical challenge but an issue of national security and economic stability.
The SICERT will be the country’s first line of defense against these threats, to ensure the resilience and security of our digital ecosystem.
The SICERT will serve as a focal point for cybersecurity incident response. The team will be responsible for providing services related to cybersecurity to the government, statutory bodies, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and the people.
It will focus on critical areas including Promoting Cybersecurity; Providing coordination on cybersecurity-related functions; Raising Awareness; Supporting institutions and businesses in prevention, detection, response, and recovery to Cyber-attacks; Maintaining a call center; Supporting law enforcement agencies in carrying out digital forensic investigations; Managing and reporting incidents; Auditing and providing support to critical infrastructure providers; and Seeking membership at regional and global CERTs as required.
The SICERT will work closely with all stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector organizations, and academic institutions by encouraging open communication, information sharing, and collaborative efforts to build a stronger, more resilient cybersecurity community.
The launch of the SICERT marks a significant step forward in the government’s commitment to cybersecurity with confidence that the team will play a vital role in protecting the country’s digital future.
The project is supported by the Governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand to ensure a stronger and effective Cybersecurity landscape to protect the livelihood and safety of all Solomon Islanders by strengthening the SICERT project.
– GCU
