Estonian foreign trade, IT minister to establish cyber security working group

TALLINN – Estonian Foreign Trade and IT Minister Kert Kingo is to establish a cyber security strategy coordination working group, which is to be tasked with monitoring and coordinating the implementation of agreed objectives and, on the basis of that, preparing a report to the cyber security council.

The cyber security strategy aims to maintain and shape a sustainable digital society relying on strong technological resilience and emergency preparedness, promote entrepreneurship and research and development in the cyber security sector, ensure sufficient and forward-looking talent supply and ensure that Estonia is a credible and capable partner in the international arena, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications said.

The working group is to include representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Defense, the Government Office, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it appears from the order signed by Kingo.

Institutions and ministries have appointed an official responsible for cyber security to participate in the work of the working group and coordinate the implementation of the agreed priorities of the strategy through planning documents of their ministry and its area of governance.

The government approved the 2019-2022 cyber security strategy in November 2018 and this is the third strategy document of the cyber security and safety field that defines a longer-term vision for the sector, the objectives to be achieved and the priority courses of action, roles and responsibilities to achieve it.

The implementation of the strategy and the established working group will be led by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The cyber security working group is to start meeting at least four times a year or more often, if needed.

A working group on the electronic election system and e-voting convened by Kingo gathered for the first time in July.

According to an order signed by Kingo, the aim of the working group is to verify compliance of the Estonian electronic voting system and security measures with regulations pertaining to cyber security and the organization of elections.