Mihailo Jovanović, Director of the Office for IT and eGovernment, met today with Fred Ruonavar, Head of System Security at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and U.S. Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN), Sector Critical Infrastructure Protection Program (CIP).
On this occasion, they discussed the results Serbia has achieved in the field of information security so far, both at the regulatory and executive i.e. operational levels. During the discussion, special attention was paid to the criteria for identifying and defining critical infrastructure, its protection, the competencies of the state and institutions, the role of other actors – primarily the private sector, reporting of incidents and responding to them, as well as handling classified information.
“The experience of the United States of America is of great importance to us, especially when exchanged first-hand. Information security refers to the security risks associated with the use of ICT systems, including the security of data, devices, information systems and eGovernment systems, networks, organizations and individuals. Building an effective national information security framework must keep pace with the digitalization process. We reaffirmed the importance of involving all state institutions and actors in the society in raising the level of information security. By adopting the Law on Information Security and the Strategy for Cybersecurity, Serbia has regulated this area at the level of legislation. With the establishment of the National Cyber Incident Response Center (CERT), we have also created the basis for an operational framework, and the Office, which is in charge of the CERT for public administration, successfully implements the prescribed measures, protecting the state administration infrastructure”, Jovanović said.
He added that the focus of the discussion was the importance of internet security that is widespread and has already been recognized in the Balkan region as one of the key elements for building a better future.
The visit of Fred Ruonavar was organized by the US Embassy in Belgrade as part of the Speakers Program with the aim of knowledge exchange and recognizing the importance of identifying and protecting critical infrastructure.