No information sharing makes it difficult to understand the nature and extent of cybersecurity hacks in the country – Domonakibau

The Fiji National University Director IT Service, Tiko Domonakibau, says it is difficult to get an idea of the nature and the extent of cybersecurity hacks in the country if companies and organisations do not share information on cyber hacks.

While speaking at the FNU 2022 Cybersecurity Symposium held at the FNU Nasinu Campus, Domonakibau says cybersecurity hacks are not only happening in Fiji but it has become a worldwide issue.

He says because companies do not want to divulge any information about any hacking that may have taken place, it is difficult for them to understand the extent of this crime in the country.

The FNU IT Director says they are conducting this symposium to create more awareness for businesses and MSME’s on cyber hacks.

Domonakibau is urging companies and businesses to have policies, procedures and other measures in place to counter cybersecurity hacks.

Meanwhile, Acting Permanent Secretary for Communications, Tupou'tuah Baravilala says cyber threats are increasingly becoming more cutting-edge, multi¬faceted, targeted, and frequent with almost US$950 billion lost to cybercrime globally in 2020 and this demonstrates the need to ensure that Fiji's cybersecurity measures are up to par, stronger protection tools are in place and closer cooperation mechanisms are made the most of.

She says the Ministry has a bird’s eye view of how the whole cyber ecosystem comes together, and this includes guaranteeing an enabling environment, connectivity access and further digital transformation shifts.

She adds recent statistics have shown that 2.7 billion people worldwide are not connected to the online world, and the opportunities it presents.

The Acting Permanent Secretary says various digitalisation efforts under the digitalFIJI flagship programme have enabled Government services to be effectively brought closer to Fijians and have driven the country towards a digital economy.

She says with these opportunities, the shift to online spaces has also presented a challenge, in that the attack surface area has increased.

Baravilala says digital technologies are evolving, generating new changes and challenges, which is why collective effort will require even closer multi-stakeholder collaboration.

She adds for it to succeed, we must become as skilful at change as the technology that is briskly re-making digital spaces.