One of the main concerns in the 21st century has been cyber frauds and breach of privacy. Cyber attacks including serious breaches like banking frauds and leaking of essentially private documents have been some problems that have baffled many. These can be done by installing a virus into your system, hacking your computer to gain access to your personal details and literally every other way that helps the attackers trace you digitally. Moreover, the fact that not everybody is a cybersecurity expert and sometimes it takes days to even discover that there has been a breach (mostly when it is already too late) adds to this horror. However, to survive in today’s world, it is not possible to just wipe out all our digital footprints and go and live in a cave. Under such circumstances, cyber security is the only answer.
What is Cyber Security?
Computer security, cybersecurity or information technology security is the process of providing protection to computer systems and networks from the theft of data or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide. Due to an increase in online shopping and remote working during the global lockdown due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, there has been a sharp rise in digital activities all over the world. This has in turn enabled the cyber attackers to spread their net deeper and wider into the web of internet. There has been a significant rise in demand for cyber security experts to tackle this menace since all major companies, with net worth of trillions of dollars, have had to shift to remote working and totally function through the web.
Cyber Security in Iceland
A special task force to specifically address the strategy on cyber security in Iceland was formed by the Ministry of the Interior in June 2013. The main task of this task force was to formulate the government’s strategy on cyber security in Iceland and the protection of IT infrastructure elements that are relevant to the country’s national security, that is, the IT systems of key institutions in the Icelandic society. Most of these systems are in turn linked to other IT systems in one way or another via the Internet, making it a global web which if breached, may lead to serious national as well as international consequences.
The formation of the special task force has also been followed by several meetings by the authorities to discuss the major issues threatening cyber security in Iceland. As a whole, this situation has created an important opportunity for technological progress and made Iceland’s IT environment more secure and competitive in the global stage. As the old proverb goes, a stitch in time, saves nine! Giving priority to security right from the initial planning stage has enabled expensive situations to be avoided later on. Integrating security considerations in the initial plan facilitates the designing of reliable computer systems, just how strong foundations, even if they take long to be made, makes it possible to build a skyscraper. Making cyber security in Iceland a part of the curriculum of all computer-related studies at all levels of the educational system is the next step to ensuring the development of stronger cyber security systems in Iceland. It would also ensure that the youth of the country learns an extremely demanding skill which would help them secure jobs in the country and abroad.
In today’s data-driven world, cyber-attacks are the most common and dangerous crimes that take place. The only solution to combat this is to upgrade ourselves at the personal as well as administrative level.
For any assistance in Iceland, contact Swapp Agency.