Cyber Security – Threats and Challenges
By
Afsheen Zeeshan
Cyber security consists of equipment, technology, practices and controls used to protect networks, systems and information from cyber-attacks.Effective cyber security decreases the threat of cyber-attacks, and shields institutions and entities from the illegal misuse of their networks, systems and technologies. These cyber threats can be in form of application attacks,ransomware, malware, exploit kits, phishing etc. Unluckily, cyber challengers have learned to instigate programmed and automated attacks using these schemes; at minimum cost. The developed countries have been assigning larger portions of their budget to make constant up-gradation of their cybersecurity system certain. Furthermore, these nations have established pacts and directions to ensure cybersecurity such as Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive, Budapest Convention on Cyber crime and EU General Data Protection Regulation.
In Pakistan, the e-governance facilities are becoming more common for improving the efficiency and provision of government services. Some of the e-government mechanisms comprise of Federal Bureau of Revenue, National Database and Regulation Authority, Pakistan Stock Exchange, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Department, Federal Public Service Commission and Civil Aviation Authority etc. These organizations could be as mart target for cyber-attackers to disrupt their important services, hack confidential data and utilize them for illegitimate activities. Pakistan’s first-ever National Center for Cyber Security was established at Air University in Islamabad on May 21, 2018.Pakistani professionals had long been trying the launch a Cyber Security Centre due to national and international cyber threats to Pakistan’s national, strategic and other establishments.The center is designed to protect our digital assets and to produce high-quality cybersecurity workforce.
Pakistani society is becoming progressively digitized and reliant on the cyber realm for communication and sustainable social development &fiscal growth. To gain the benefits of advanced technology, more funds are required to safe guard an open, free and protected cyberspace. As a result, comprehensive and better partnerships in the fields of capacity building and expertise exchange is becoming one of the most significant theme on the national cyber agenda.The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has established a Cyber Security Wing on state-of-the-art tools in order to come up with operational cybersecurity plans and to deal with evolving cyber terrorism intimidation.Cyber invasions the tactic of modern world’s fifth generation warfare and considerable resources must be allocated to develop cyber war force because this domain is not any less important than the combat zones of land, air, sea and the space in the present scenario. The government must invest in the capacity building of youth and provide favorable environment to utilize their hidden talent for constructive activities. Cyber threats will continue to raise exponentially in future and the expenditures of not investing in a full spectrum of cyber competencies will continue to intensify. It is need of hour that public and private sector bodies must forge cooperation to profoundly spend for human resource development and training in the field of IT security and management to face fast changing trends in the field of IT security and systems.
The writer is Islamabad based social activist and lecturer at National Defense University, Islamabad.
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