Part One Introduction 1. BACKGROUND 2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE Up to a few decades ago, a country’s security interests focussed on protecting its borders, its waters and its airspace. Today, cyber-space forms an integral part of a country’s day to day reality. This Strategy intends to set an overall high level direction in cyber security across all strata of the Maltese economy and society. As a first issue, it also intends to consolidate a recognition of the need for a planned and concerted effort by the various stakeholders involved so as to protect Malta and its interests. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) leads the way in interaction within and outside of a country’s territory and its disruption may potentially affect life. Hence, cyber-space cannot be left out of a country’s span of protection. is affected by “cyberEveryone issues and everyone Malta is no island within the realm of cyber-space! Cyber-space knows no boundaries. It transcends national borders, promoting online opportunities of dialogue, mutual cooperation and understanding beyond our shores. However, the cyber world makes no distinction between its users of good intent or not. needs mutual assistance. It is therefore in everyone’s interest and responsibility to ensure a secure and safe cyber-space for all. Therefore, as opportunities are limitless, so are cyber threats. Such malicious attempts in cyber-space may be launched anywhere, in any vulnerable area of a digital network, instantaneously leaving no time for an appropriate response and with very minimal traceability or detection of its perpetrator. ” Ultimately, cyber-space is man-made and like anything else of its sort, it is never perfect. The rapid advances of technology itself and the opportunities that arise from it do not allow it either. Indeed the innovations in technology and its adoption are even faster than the ability to secure it. This Strategy should translate into timely, specific and actionable measures that set the foundations for a national cyber security framework that shall need to be implemented, maintained and updated so as to ensure currency and relevance in a highly challenging, dynamic and complex environment as that posed by cyber-space. Malta’s security of cyber-space ultimately calls for a planned, collective and systemic approach that respects fundamental rights and freedoms whilst ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of cyberspace on a day-to-day basis. Such is the intention of Digital Malta – the National Digital Strategy for the period 2014 till 2020 – which identifies a National Cyber Security Strategy as one of its required actions. Through its various goals and corresponding measures, the National Cyber Security Strategy aims to: • Position cyber security as a national investment, that gives an indication beyond Malta’s shores of the country��s commitment to a secure cyberspace for online transaction and interaction • Convey the key message that cyber security cannot be achieved in isolation. It does not 8 MALTA CYBER SECURITY STRATEGY 2016