The Ministry of the Economy and Finance is taking an active part in the cybersecurity month. Why is that?
Our participation is part of a broader approach defined in 2016 by a ministerial order organising cybersecurity in the Ministry’s information systems. It has three major focuses: security certification, because before launching an information system, you need to ensure it respects ISS rules; raising awareness among personnel because our agents are given technological tools and they need to know how to use them and the risks related to them. And finally, we need to inform companies and consumers.
What will you be doing throughout the month of October?
We’ll be holding a number of events, the highlight being 3 October with a conference for all of the audiences we aim to reach: administration, companies and consumers (through consumer associations). We also plan to publish several handbooks based on the many already existing guides (like the one ANSSI and CGPME published in 2015 for small and medium-sized companies). We’re for example working with CCI France and Guichet Entreprises on a handbook for entrepreneurs or people who plan to start a business. And we’ll be publishing a national study on digital security in France from the perspective of HTTPS and digital identity protection by e-mail. Following the awareness campaign, we aim to work massively on the local level, using a variety of networks (CEOs, ANSSI, CCI France, direccte, Ministry of the Interior, etc.).
How are these initiatives being received?
Well. We’ve received good feedback and real support with excellent participation by general management in house. Our goal is to raise the awareness of Ministry agents (140 000) and their divisions and departments without fear mongering or finger pointing. We’re also working with computer personnel to raise their awareness of the importance of security right from the product design stage (Security by design). Plus, we’re working with various bodies like Conseil National du Numérique, Syntec Numérique, Iinstitut National de la Consommation, GIP ACYMA, registered consumer associations, CESIN, etc. But here, the Ministry’s goal isn’t to add another intervention layer, rather to provide our ability to coordinate and assist economic players in line with our ministry tradition.
