Foreign
THE United States Government says it has initiated trainings and assistance programmes in order to promote the widespread adoption of best cybersecurity practices.
The U.S. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Ms Michele Markoff, said this in her brief titled: “Effective Cyber Diplomacy: U.S. Engagement in International Cyberspace Security Cooperation”, on Thursday.
Markoff said some of the programmes focused on strengthening capabilities, procedures for cyber incident response teams and promote international stability in cyberspace.
She also said that the goal was to decrease the risks from cyber threats, both state actors and malicious cyber activity that might be sponsored by states.
“We draft and implement a national cybersecurity strategy, or increasing cybersecurity education and qualification programs within a country’s IT workforce.
“Our training and other assistance programmes aim to promote the widespread adoption of best cybersecurity practices.
“For example, some of our programmes focus on strengthening capabilities and procedures for cyber incident response teams, drafting and implementing a national cybersecurity strategy.
“Or increasing cybersecurity education and qualification programs within a country’s IT workforce,” she said.
Markoff said whenever a state engages in malicious cyber activity contrary to the framework, the U.S. gathers like-minded nations to support the framework of responsible state behavior and impose consequences on the bad-acting state.
“In this way, we have found that a coalition that stands up and calls out bad behavior in cyberspace can shape that adversary’s decision making about what it will do next.
“When we come together to coordinate our responses to a significant cyber incident, the state behind the incident receives a very strong message that such behavior is unacceptable and we will stand together defensively.
“We believe that the international community should hold all states accountable under this framework which is now the key standard of responsible behavior.
“Our programmes also strengthen cooperation among our partners and allies to garner international support for the framework of responsible state behavior and to defend against shared threats in cyberspace.
“Another important piece of our work to promote international stability in cyberspace is that we work with our allies and partners worldwide to build global capacity to defend against cyber threats,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Press Centers. (NAN)
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Tags: Michele Markoff
