MOSCOW, September 22 (RIA Novosti) - Israel is planning to create a new cyber defense body in order to protect itself against increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks targeting the state’s networks, as announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
“I decided last week to develop a national authority on the cyber issue to defend the State of Israel on cyber-security issues,” Netanyahu said in a statement quoted by the Times of Israel. “That is, defending not only important facilities and security agencies, but defending Israeli citizens against these attacks as well”.
The creation of a national cyber defense authority was announced after numerous alleged attempts by Iran to attack Israeli networks and military facilities. The Israeli government stressed that a new enhanced cyber policy needs to be implemented along with an increase in cooperation between government agencies and private business in the civilian sector. It would serve as a shield for Israeli cyber security and would protect against further potential attacks on Israel’s communication systems.
Cyber-attacks have become a powerful strategic tool for many states to gain precious economic and political intelligence against their rivals. In the modern electronic world, the protection of communications systems is a top policy priority for many countries. Nations are constantly developing and upgrading their cyber security strategies.
“Dealing with the cyber threat on the national level in the coming decades constitutes a strategic challenge that all countries must deal with,” said Eviatar Matania, the Head of Israel’s National Cyber Bureau in a statement, reports the Times of Israel. He also added that the creation of a national cyber defense authority will strengthen Israel’s cyber security and contribute to the protection of its vital economic and military interests.
