The first ‘Cybersecurity Week’ to be held in Azerbaijan included a seminar on ‘CERT services: cyber threats and protection methods’. The seminar was held on 14 March, at the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS.

The main objective of the seminar was to discuss achievements and challenges ahead for the CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) services operating in the country, and to exchange information between relevant authorities on incidents, the prospects for international cooperation, and integration into relevant international organisations.

It is no coincidence that the CERT event was held at the Institute. The first CERT in Azerbaijan was developed by the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS to ensure the security of the AzScienceNet research and education network and, currently, it operates under the name AzScienceCERT.

Rasim Alguliyev, Academician-Secretary of ANAS, at the Cert services seminar in March, ©IIT of ANAS

Opening the event, academician-secretary of ANAS, director of the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS, academician Rasim Aliguliyev noted that several events would be held within the framework of ‘Cybersecurity Week’: the regional Internet Governance Forum; a hackathon competition, and events on ‘Sustainable and safe cloud environment’ and ‘ISO 27001 certification’.

Important measures have been taken for the effective organisation, management, coordination and in-depth study of new approaches and training personnel to combat cybercrime in our country”.

Rasim Aliguliyev, Director of IIT of ANAS

The Deputy Minister of transport, Communications and High Technologies Elmir Velizade, and the Deputy Chief of the State Agency for Special Communications and Information Security of the Special State Protection Service Azer Ahadov, spoke about: work done on the education of private and other entities of the country in the cybersecurity sphere and the formation of cyber security awareness; protection of information processes; protection of information resources and  systems from possible threats; and increasing the level of general training in the field of cybersecurity.

A report followed  from the  head of the Electronic Security Service under the Ministry of Transport, Communications  and High Technologies Faig Farmanov on “Activities of the Electronic Security Service (www.cert.az)”. Department head of the Institute Yadigar Imamverdiyev presented on ‘Evolution of the CERT: new trends and challenges’. Chief of the State Agency for Special Communications  and Information Security of the Special State Protection Service Tural Mammadov discussed ‘Activities of CERT.gov.az in the fight against new generation threats: the presentation of newly created service blacklist.gov.az’.

Further information

Cybersecurity Week was held for the first time in Azerbaijan on 11-15 March 2019, organised by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies with the support of Microsoft. The goal of the week was to increase the level of efficiency and awareness, and to improve technical training in the sphere of cybersecurity.

The CERT services seminar was co-organised within the framework of Cybersecurity Week by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, the Special State Protection Service and the Institute of Information Technology of ANAS.

See more photos and full news about Cybersecurity Week on the IIT of ANAS website.