International Conference on Computer Security in a Nuclear World: Expert Discussion and Exchange
1-5 June 2015
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna, Austria
Opening Remarks
Mr. Brahima Sanou
Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau,
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Mr. Jazi Eko Istiyanto, Chairman of the conference
Mr. Yukiya Amano, Director General IAEA
Other dignitaries on the high table here and in the room
Distinguished participants,
All protocol observed, Good morning
It is indeed a great pleasure to be here with you today. On behalf of the International Telecommunication Union I would like to thank the International Atomic Energy Agency for organizing this international expert discussion and exchange on computer security in a nuclear world.
We celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17 2015. Over the past 150 years the ITU, that became the UN specialized agency for Telecommunication and ICTs in 1947, has been working to facilitate the development of telecommunication and ICTs through global coordination, allocation of wireless spectrum and orbital resources for satellites, technical standards and developmental assistance.
Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs, including cybersecurity, is a key focus area of the ITU. Having recognized that cyberthreats are a global phenomenon that requires a global approach, ITU launched in 2007 the ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA), a multistakeholder framework for international cooperation to increase efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts.
The ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda is built upon five strategic pillars: Legal Measures, Technical & Procedural Measures, Organizational Structures, Capacity Building and International Cooperation.
On the ground, ITU has several programs that are focused on assisting Member States in defining national and regional cybersecurity strategies, raising awareness in key stakeholder communities, conducting training workshops, developing programs for child online protection, and establishing national Computer Incident Response Teams (CIRT), amongst other activities.
We have trained more than 2,700 professionals in cybersecurity. 152 countries have committed to work with ITU in implementing the CIRTs. We are cooperating with UNODC, FISRT and Interpol. We are a founding the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise launched last April at The Hague, during of the Global Conference on Cyberspace.
We collect data and publish the Global Cybersecurity Index that features the level of commitment to cybersecurity and the cyberwellness profile of the 193 Members States of ITU.
We also develop security-related standards on a variety of topics, including Identity management, the security of applications and services for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart grids.
Distinguished Delegates Ladies and Gentlemen
Each critical infrastructure sector has specific cybersecurity issues affecting it, and its own methods of tackling them. This is especially true of the nuclear sector given its strict regulatory framework due to the risks posed by nuclear material.
However we believe that all the stakeholders need to share knowledge and cross fertilize their experiences in the quest of global approach to Cybersecurity issues.
Why am I insisting on that?
Today, there are more than 7 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide, for a population estimated at 7.2 billion. Globally, 3.2 billion people are using the Internet, of which two billion live in developing countries. The mobile technology coupled with the 4G, and soon the 5G under standardization in ITU, has put the power of computing in the palm of anyone who owns or has access to a smartphone. At some extent all these smartphones could be a source of potential cyberthreats in the future.
In parallel, we can clearly see on the horizon the Internet-of-Things, an environment in which everyone will experience hyper-connectivity with everything.
With the estimated number of 50 billion connected devices in 2020, we can easily foresee a wonderful, but a complex world where cyber risks will increase unless mitigated by our collective efforts.
The reality is that in such a hyper-interconnected world our common level of strength in terms of cybersecurity is that of the weakest cyber-device.
So, countries that are harnessing nuclear power need to be even more committed and engaged in enhancing our global cybersecurity posture.
To conclude, I would like to thank IAEA for organizing this very important conference and reiterate the commitment of the ITU to work with all stakeholders to create a safe cyperspace.
We must work all together in order for us to move from the now culture of cyberthreats or cybersecurity to a culture of cyberpeace.
I thank you.
