Financial Crime World

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Kazakhstan Implements Cybersecurity Measures to Protect Financial Institutions

Kazakhstan has taken significant steps to ensure the security of its financial institutions by implementing the “Cyber Shield of Kazakhstan” cybersecurity concept. The country’s Chair of the Information Security Committee, Ruslan Kenzhebekovich Abdikalikov, spoke with the ITU Regional Office for the CIS Region about the preconditions and development process leading up to this plan.

Background

Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the government to create the Cyber Shield in January 2017, which was later approved five months later. The concept aims to define state policy on ICT protection, boost a legal and industrial culture of cybersecurity, improve readiness to prevent and respond to incidents, and provide basic definitions and explanations to raise general awareness about threats.

Key Challenges

During the development process, several key challenges were identified:

  • Insufficient awareness among citizens about cybersecurity threats
  • Shortage of information security professionals
  • Inadequate information protection infrastructure
  • Neglect by organizations of information security requirements
  • Limited trust in the public sector
  • Risks associated with the provision of electronic public services

Solutions

To address these issues, Kazakhstan recommends that countries:

  • Analyze their current cybersecurity situation
  • Identify key challenges and threats
  • Learn from international experience
  • Outline objectives
  • Formulate an action plan

International Cooperation

Kazakhstan is sharing its experience with other countries through bilateral or multilateral formats and uses the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) produced by the International Telecommunication Union as a benchmark for progress. The country’s high ranking on the GCI criteria has been achieved through:

  • Ensuring cybersecurity is a priority
  • Establishing a separate body to implement state policy on cybersecurity
  • Engaging government agencies, private ICT and cybersecurity companies, specialized public associations, and experts

Future Plans

To further develop its cybersecurity capabilities, Kazakhstan plans to:

  • Intensify efforts to educate the public
  • Nurture domestic ICT solutions, equipment, and software production
  • Revise its Cyber Shield concept

Recommendations for Other Countries

Kazakhstan suggests that other CIS countries establish:

  • Legislative and regulatory frameworks for personal data protection
  • State structures dealing with personal data protection and individual rights
  • Public awareness about rights and freedoms
  • Technical and organizational measures to prevent leakage of personal data
  • Administrative and criminal liability for illegal actions
  • State safeguards for legitimate collection and processing of personal data

Conclusion

Kazakhstan’s experience serves as a model for other countries seeking to strengthen cybersecurity and personal data protection. The country’s Chair of the Information Security Committee emphasized the importance of joint work by government agencies, private ICT and cybersecurity companies, specialized public associations, and experts in developing robust cybersecurity measures.