ICT Minister Chairs ESCC Meeting on Measures to Address Cyber Threats, Technical Difficulties
The Egyptian Supreme Cybersecurity Council (ESCC) has convened under the chairmanship of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat.
The meeting highlighted the plans and measures necessary to address cyber threats and technical difficulties and reviewed the efforts made to secure the ICT infrastructure and technological systems and enhance cybersecurity across various sectors.
The meeting delved into critical precautionary measures for preempting cyber threats and technical difficulties, involving developing proactive strategies to thwart potential cyberattacks, taking essential steps to optimize the efficiency of cybersecurity systems, and ensuring the safety and security of digital infrastructures.
At the outset of the meeting, the ICT Minister outlined ESCC key efforts to comprehensively secure the ICT infrastructure and address cyber threats. The Council’s efforts include adopting a regulatory framework for licensing cybersecurity service providers through the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), featuring an updated list of licensed companies and performance indicators aligning with the standards set by ESCC by the end of this month.
Efforts also include establishing the national cybersecurity operations center and advancing the second phase of the network operations and communications infrastructure monitoring center.
Additionally, ESCC ensures compliance of ministries and their affiliates; public service, economic and national agencies, and companies operating in Egypt with the Council’s resolutions.
The council mandates such institutions and public sector companies to submit to NTRA an annual cybersecurity report authorized by a licensed cybersecurity service provider, six months before the end of the fiscal year. Any identified vulnerabilities must be addressed and remediated within the subsequent six months. ESCC also works to cultivate cybersecurity specialists within each ministry based on the volume of data and operations.
Talaat also referred to the global IT outage that occurred last July, which had repercussions across various sectors in many countries. He explained Egypt’s readiness to prevent such crises and counter cyberattacks effectively.
It is worth noting that ESCC is affiliated with the Egyptian Cabinet and includes representatives from vital state sectors and authorities. The council crafted the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2023-2027, featuring several programs. These include developing a comprehensive legislative framework, strengthening national partnerships, creating robust and resilient cyber defenses, raising public awareness about the importance of cybersecurity, promoting scientific research and innovation, and fostering international cooperation.
