Financial Crime World

Afghanistan to Boost Cybersecurity with National Action Plan

Kabul, Afghanistan - The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has launched a comprehensive national cybersecurity action plan aimed at securing government, business, and citizens’ data.

Key Objectives

The plan outlines five key actions to be taken by various public organizations and agencies from August 2014 to August 2015:

  • Drafting cybercrime laws
  • E-transaction and e-signature laws
  • National cybersecurity policies
  • ICT laws
  • Intergovernmental IT security policies

Implementation Strategy

To achieve these objectives, MCIT will:

  • Recruit a team of professional programmers to test and certify software and applications, ensuring compliance with international standards.
  • Prioritize training for information and cybersecurity experts through partnerships with donor communities such as the World Bank, ITU, USAID, and scholarships opportunities for master’s programs in information security.

Data Privacy

To safeguard data privacy, MCIT will:

  • Develop a plan and information security frameworks for protecting critical information infrastructure.
  • Implement secure mechanisms for information flow while in transit and at rest.
  • Establish a disaster recovery plan meeting business requirements.

Public-Private Partnerships

The action plan promotes public-private partnerships by encouraging private sector involvement in delivering services complementary to the government, including:

  • Establishing private data centers that can support government operations.
  • Boosting the ICT economy.
  • Building trust between the two sectors.

International Cooperation

MCIT will work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop multilateral relationships in cybersecurity with regional and international organizations.

Monitoring and Progress Reports

The plan’s implementation will be monitored by a dedicated team, with regular progress reports submitted to relevant stakeholders. Deadlines have been set for some actions, while others are envisioned as repeated periodically or occurring chronically.

Conclusion

The national cybersecurity action plan is a significant step forward in protecting Afghanistan’s digital landscape from cyber threats and ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of information systems and data.