Cyber Threats in the Pacific: A Growing Concern for Governments and Organisations

The increasing sophistication of cyber threats has highlighted the critical role governments and organisations play in safeguarding their assets. In response, a security awareness training programme is being implemented to develop an information security mindset within the Pacific police workforce.

The Need for Comprehensive Training

The Island of Niue recently hosted cyber safety awareness and education training facilitated by Cyber Safety Pacifica and funded by the Australian Federal Police. Participants learned that employees represent the first line of defence and can be a potential vulnerability within the cybersecurity framework, emphasizing the need for a strategic focus on comprehensive training programmes.

Key Focus Areas

Fiji’s National Community Policing coordinator, Emosi Uluilakeba, discussed the training’s key focus areas. “The training focuses on, for example, the crimes that are prevalent through the use of cyber,” Uluilakeba said. “When we talk about cybercrime, it is simply a crime where cyber is being used.” The Cyber Safety Pasifika (CSP) initiative focused on three key areas: Cyber Safety Awareness and Education, Cybercrime Legislation and Policy Development, and Up-skilling of Pacific Police in Cybercrime Investigations.

The Importance of Cyber Safety Training

Uluilakeba emphasised the need for Pacific resources to receive training in investigation and awareness to proactively educate the community. He highlighted the importance of this cyber safety training for everyone involved across the Pacific, stating, “An in-depth look into cybercrime is prevalent in all our policing societies in the Pacific.” He also clarified that there is a difference between Cyber Safety and Cyber Security: “Cyber security simply protects the process and the systems, your systems, and your working systems. Cyber safety protects you, the user. In other words, it protects you from engaging in a suspicious social activity that could eventually lead to your harm.”

The Role of Collaboration

Uluilakeba believes that collaboration among police forces from different Pacific nations will enable sharing of knowledge and experiences, which can help prevent and solve cybercrimes. “Those who were trained with this training would go back and be educators in educating young people entering the schools and also educating fellow police officers and professionals that work with our young people and likewise the civic society in general for people to be able to safely secure their systems that they are using in the internet and also protect themselves.”

A New Approach to Cybersecurity

The initiative aims to equip officers and staff with the necessary knowledge to serve as the organisation’s first line of cyber defence. With the Asia-Pacific region having the highest number of internet users worldwide and being the most populated region, it is crucial that Pacific resources receive training in investigation and awareness.

Conclusion

The implementation of a security awareness training programme within the Pacific police workforce is a significant step towards addressing the growing concern of cyber threats. By equipping officers and staff with the necessary knowledge to serve as the organisation’s first line of cyber defence, governments and organisations can better safeguard their assets and protect their citizens. The collaboration among Pacific nations will also enable sharing of knowledge and experiences, which can help prevent and solve cybercrimes.

–This article was first published by PMN.