ICT sector suggests creating safe cyberspace in a year

Kathmandu, Jun. 18

Information and Communication Technology sector organisations have jointly suggested the government to establish safe and flexible cyberspace within a year and create institutional and organisational infrastructure for it.

Computer Association of Nepal (CAN) Federation, Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI) and Information Security Response Team Nepal (ISRTN) have recommended the government, in their feedback to the draft of the National Cyber Security Policty, 2021, to take the sensitive issue as an urgent task.

In the draft, the government has proposed to establish the safe cyberspace in three years and create infrastructure in five years.

"Cyber security is a very sensitive issue, therefore the policy and infrastructure should be created as soon as possible," the three-organisations said in a statement on Friday and urged the government to implement the policy in three months rather than the proposed 12-months period.

Representatives of the three organisations had met Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Informational Technology Hari Prasad Basyal and handed over the feedback to the draft. The Ministry had asked feedback, suggestions and opinions on the draft.

The delegation led by President of CAN Federation Nawaraj Kunwar included its immediate past president Hemanta Kumar Chaurasiya, general secretary Narayan Thapa, member Subhas Khadka, CCSRI's president Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya, vice president Roja Kiran Basukala, general secretary Shalik Ram Parajuli and ISRTN's president Chiranjibi Adhikari.

The delegation had suggested the government to create legal and policy framework for the cyber security and check the cyber-crime at the provincial level.

Submitting their suggestions in 23 points and offering additional 34 recommendations for new inclusions, the three organisations urged the government to create easy access to the digital signature and provide the facility free of cost.

They have expressed their concerns to the security of the sensitive information of citizens and suggested formulating laws on cyber insurance and creating data exchange infrastructure to share information with the national and international service providers.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 June 2021.