Part Three
The Strategy
4. Goal: Secure Cyberspace
Such alignment may also call for particular
consideration, in terms of support, to organisations
having limited or constrained resources (including
human and financial).
On the other hand, it is understood that legislation
and regulation cannot necessarily cover all aspects
of cyber security; particularly considering potential
financial and human resource constraints for robust
cyber security.
i. Establish regulation and voluntary selfcommitment for guaranteeing cyber security
The
current
scenario
analysis
of
cyber
security in Malta indicates areas of regulation and
policy particularly within the local regulated industry
sectors. Focus appears to be mainly on policy
frameworks covering the licensing approaches which
seek to mitigate risk.
Voluntary self commitment is, thus, also key to cyber
security. The notion of the applicability of a European
security trust mark, applied also in a number of EU
states 31may encourage voluntary self commitment
and may therefore be one item to explore the
possibility of its use locally. Local national strategy
may already serve as a potential opportunity for
further consideration in fostering self commitment,
such as:
“
Interoperability is one
means of broadening and
strenghtening collaboration,
establishing intelligence
and improving situational
awareness, all of which are
essential for effective cyber
security.
• e-Commerce Malta which highlights three pillars
as its basis:
i. Engendering trust in ecommerce
”
ii. Transforming micro-enterprises
iii. Taking Small to Medium sized Enterprises
and industry to the next level; which specifically
also refers to an audit-kit – through a Specialist
advisory service (Measure 2) and the European
trust-mark (Measure 9)
Whilst legislation may help, Maltese regulatory
authorities may also need to address further emerging
technology such as cloud computing applicability,
through regulation within their respective sectors.
• Digital Malta which refers to the Forum for the
transformation of industries through ICT that
aims to raise awareness about how ICT can help
industries transform themselves and to discuss
items such as self-regulation.
The formulation of regulation pertaining to cyber
security would need to take into consideration, among
others, the latest EU data protection legislation29 as
well as of legal requirements pertaining to network
and information security, where applicable.
Other potential opportunities which may be explored
include financial incentives, such as in the form of
grant schemes, as a means to entice the applicability
of necessary cyber security related measures.
Regulation within sectors may also include
conformance to internationally recognised security
standards or industry led cyber security related
standards or practices, with the aim of bolstering
cyber security as well as establishing centres of
excellence within the sectors themselves.
ii. Stimulate use of interoperable and secure
standards on the basis of good practice
Digital Malta, through Action 42 – Standards and
Good Practice, states Government’s intention to
collaborate with stakeholders to support and promote
22
MALTA CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY 2016