AFP to establish cyber-security ‘war room’

From Rappler (Nov 19): AFP to establish cyber-security ‘war room’

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will be putting up its own operations center to counter worldwide cyber security threats, according to a military spokesman. Dubbed as Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance or “C4ISTAR”, the project was “envisioned by the Department of National Defense and the AFP that seeks for a comprehensive upgrading and acquisition of modern equipment and solutions under the AFP modernization program for efficient and effective conduct of operations,” military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said. Col. Wilson Galedo, operations head of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Electronics and Information Systems, said the C4ISTAR is focused in protecting highly secured data information against cyber attacks. “This is a continuing effort to keep the AFP at pace with current trends in cyber security in line with the C4ISAR and the AFP Modernization Program,” Galedo said. He said the c4ISTAR is also concentrated on the changing threat landscape and its implications for defense; comprehensive security management programs; and building cyber-security core personnel.

Earlier, National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) also proposed to the government the creation of a cyber-security institute. In contrast to the military’s cyber-security operations center, the cyber-security institute proposed by the NDCP would serve as a hub for the development and safeguarding of information and communications technology (ICT) in connection with national security issues. “We advocate making the cyberspace a domain for public good and for government to ensure public safety therein. The position paper I have written attempts to communicate that and tries to identify some tentative ways and means to realize them,” said Ernesto Aradanas, executive vice president at NDCP. Aradanas has suggested the creation of a Presidential Task Force on ICTDev and cyber-security that will act as an integrating body to pump-prime national ICTDev and cyber-security, strategically manage the national effort on this twin programs, and strengthen the nexus of ICTD, cyber-security and national security. He said the task force will provide inputs for policy-making to set clear direction that will optimize our limited resources and integrate our efforts to a common purpose, facilitate the allocation and proper use of resources, continue and expand awareness and advocacy program on ICTD and cyber-security, boost and prod capacity and capability building at all levels in all sectors, and encourage the convergence of efforts through coordination, cooperation and collaboration. “The task force will be a transitory organization that may be deactivated when the undertaking has taken-off and the national structure has been put into place and duly instituted,” Aradanas said. He said it is appropriate to establish the institute under the wing of the NDCP since it is the center on national security studies. Aradanas said the task of the cyber-security institute is to conduct research and studies on cyber-security and ICTDev as important elements of national security.

http://www.interaksyon.com/infotech/afp-to-establish-cyber-security-war-room