As part of its efforts to enhance cybersecurity resilience here, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) yesterday unveiled 43 new policies as part of government’s National Cybersecurity Policy Framework.
The launch occurred at the 4-day policy sensitisation seminar hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), a NDMA release stated.
It informed that this is the first in a series of engagements across the public sector, which will be facilitated by the NDMA.
The participants in the training session include permanent secretaries, heads of agencies, and senior information technology representatives from government ministries and their sub-agencies.
The release explained that these cybersecurity policies aim to provide a “strategic approach” to managing cybersecurity risks, outline roles and responsibilities for various stakeholders and include mechanisms for incident response. It added that the development of these policies to protect the Government of Guyana’s information and communication infrastructures from cyber threats, directly complements government’s vision of utilising information and communication technology (ICT) resources to provide easy access to government services, facilitate information sharing, and promote collaboration among government agencies, and other relevant parties.
NDMA General Manager, Christopher Deen, underscored the importance of maintaining a “robust and modern” cybersecurity framework, while iterating the significant advantages of adopting modern cybersecurity practices. He reaffirmed NDMA’s dedication to collaborative efforts aimed at bolstering cyber resilience across government.
“By championing a culture of cyber awareness and investing in cybersecurity capabilities, we can collectively mitigate risks, strengthen our cyber defences, and uphold transparency and security in our nation’s digital landscape. This ensures that we emerge stronger, safer, and more resilient in the face of cyber threats.”
Deen further highlighted government’s “substantial” investments in leveraging technology to propel the nation’s growth trajectory, as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. This commitment, he explained, underscores the imperative of continuously enhancing cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and sensitive data in alignment with the nation’s technological advancement.
Meanwhile, Deputy General Manager with responsibility for Operations, Orson Smith, called the policies “timely,” highlighting their significance beyond mere business continuity, and acknowledging the critical role they play in safeguarding the sensitive data stored by government agencies.
Pointed out that a robust framework not only protects vital information but also upholds public trust and confidence in governmental institutions.
As such, Smith urged heads of agencies to recognise the “myriad” benefits of embracing such policies, while showing the proactive measures embedded within the framework. He emphasised how its implementation fosters resilience against cyber threats, enhances incident response capabilities, and promotes effective collaboration among stakeholders.
