Apec theme

THE recent PNG Apec theme ‘Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future’ has prominently close in the gap on Papua New Guinea’s global standing, thus leverage PNG to manoeuvre in the global podium.
The digitalisation model institutes its charter providing an impetus for driving the digital economy.
Prior to the Apec era in 2016, an International Corporation entered into between the Governments of PNG and Australia had signed a MoU to build national cyber security capability.
As a result of this arrangement a National Cyber Security Centre is established that monitors the PNG Cyberspace during the Apec period, the facility is still in operation for the post-Apec period.
One of the pillars of the MoU is the Coral Sea cabling which is set to be completed towards end of this year.
This intervention is to drive digital economy, the transition will absorb all systems of government, private sectors, industries, and the civil society at large into embracing transformation with digitalisation.
The cabling project will significantly upgrades the National Transmission Network (NTN).
Users will now be exposed to new internet experiences of faster accessibility, more affordable at cheaper rates, and upsurge user stat.
The shifting landscape of digital technology will expose users to cyber threat vulnerability. Cyber security is a new concept and divulging users to unprecedented threats is menacing.
The GoPNG, intelligence community, ICT community, and other key stakeholders must take a holistic approach to shape national capability against cyber threats and attacks.
The National Security Policy directs policy makers and ICT officers from a whole of government approach, private sectors, industries, and civil societies to build a synergy to detect and protect our high value people, data, and critical infrastructures.
The threat attackers are virtual, highly motivated and are sophisticated. GoPNG now embarking on building its national capability, users at all levels and spectrum of the society must try to understand the threat context in their own settings and may assess available capability to protect themselves.
Since it is a new conception, there is a need for National Cyber Security Awareness Strategy to be a vehicle to disseminate information on cyber security which is indeed a next take for GoPNG and its international partners.

David Kawage Bitno
Pom