Experts: “A transformation not only in technology but also in mindset is essential in assessing the preconditions for cyber resilience and preventive measures”

On 10 March, the Association ” Latvijas Formula 2050″ in cooperation with the University of Latvia, State Joint Stock Company “Latvijas Valsts radio un televīzijas centrs”, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, JSC “Latvijas valsts meži”, JSC “SEB banka”, “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons” organised a high-level conference “Digital Maturity and Cyber Resilience for Sustainability of Latvia” at the Nature House of the University of Latvia.

In two thematic sessions, experts assessed aspects of cybersecurity policy-making and implementation, with particular emphasis on the availability and impact of the necessary infrastructure and technologies, as well as the important impact of digital maturity and cyber defence on the development of economic organisations, resilience to external factors and the protection of knowledge and competences.

Commenting on the key issues to be discussed, Ģirts Ozols, Chairman of the Board of SJSC “Latvijas Valsts radio un televīzijas centrs”, said:

“In assessing the preconditions for cyber resilience and the preventive measures to be taken at individual, corporate and national level, a transformation not only in technology but also in mindset is essential.For millennia, threat has been associated with destruction or subjugation. Cyber-attack operates in a different dimension – exploitation. Cyber criminals aim to gain access to technologies, information systems, tools and equipment to exploit them for their own benefit – extorting funds, discrediting system holders, falsifying data.Both conventional and unconventional warfare are visible and everyone involved understands that an aggression is taking place, while a cyber threat may be completely invisible and the victim may not even realise for years that he is being exploited.In a cyber attack, neither the attacker nor the victim is bound to a specific location. Whatever technological walls we build, it will be impossible to build cyber resilience without awareness of these fundamental differences.”

Speaking about the contribution of the conference to the further work of the Board Member of the Association “Latvijas Formula 2050”, Member of the Council of the BA School of Business and Finance Andris Nātriņš said: “The expert conversation provided a multi-faceted insight into cyber resilience, highlighting that public and private sector organisations face new risks and challenges as they develop digital capabilities in digital ecosystems and the digital economy. It is important to recognise both the competences required at management level and the importance of the digital skills and knowledge of each employee or customer or systems user in the organisation. Therefore, when discussing cyber resilience, it is important to address the geopolitical context, national cyber policies, technological capabilities, specific cyber governance competences and the digital maturity of the individual. These elements are equally important in the cyber resilience formula”.

The opening part was addressed by Juris Binde, President of “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons”, Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Association “Latvijas Formula 2050”, Jānis Kažociņš, Adviser to the President on National Security Issues, Secretary of the National Security Council, Zane Petre, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia, Signe Bāliņa, Adviser to the Rector of the University of Latvia on Digital Society Issues.

In the first part of the conference “Cyber Resilience: the Dimension of National Security”, the vision was presented by Jānis Garisons, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Ģirts Ozols, Chairman of the Board of SJSC “Latvijas Valsts radio un televīzijas centrs”, Varis Teivāns, Deputy Head of CERT.LV, Aleksandrs Orlovs, Member of the Board of SIA “CYBER CIRCLE”, Member of the Council of the Latvian Security and Defence Federation (DAIF Latvia).

In the second part of the conference “Digital Maturity and Cyber Defence for Economic Growth” presentations were given by Irēna Emīlia Švilpe, Economic Advisor at the European Commission Representation in Latvia, Gatis Ozols, Deputy State Secretary for Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Ieva Tetere, Chairman of the Board of SEB banka, member of the Board of “Latvijas Formula 2050”, Toms Reiziņš, member of the Board of JSC “Latvijas valsts meži”.

The following panellists shared their thoughts on the further development and future challenges of the public: Uģis Mitrevics, Head of the Sustainable Development Commission of the 14th Saeima, Pēteris Vilks, Deputy Director for National Development at the State Chancellery, Head of the Department for Coordination of Transversal Relations, Harijs Ozols, Head of the Information Technology Department of the Bank of Latvia, Oskars Blumbergs, Head of the IT Security Working Group at the Financial Industry Association, Ronalds Mandelis, Commander of the Home Guard Cyber Defence Unit, Andris Nātriņš Member of the Council of the School of BA School of Business and Finance, Member of the Board of the Association ” Latvijas Formula 2050″, Gundars Bērziņš, professor at the University of Latvia, member of the board of the association ” Latvijas Formula 2050″, Edmunds Beļskis, Member of the Board of the Latvian Association for Information and Communication Technologies, Jekaterina Macuka, Director of the State Data Inspectorate, Reinis Znotiņš, Executive Director of the Latvian Blockchain Association, Agate Ambulte, Advisor to the Executive Director of Liepaja Municipality on IT Education and Development, Mārtiņš Kaļķis, Head of Cyber Security, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, Atis Kapenieks, Director of the Riga Technical University Distance Learning Centre.