The headquarters of the global coalition to tackle the world’s most serious cybersecurity threats, backed by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, was inaugurated outside of the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur recently.
The new state-of-the-art facilities of the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber-Threats (IMPACT) in Cyberjaya will host the ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA), which promotes international cooperation to make cyberspace more secure in an increasingly networked information society.
The new IMPACT headquarters was inaugurated by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, who is also Chairman of IMPACT’s International Advisory Board, and ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Toure.
IMPACT is the world’s first global public-private initiative against cyber-threats. This collaboration between ITU and IMPACT provides ITU’s 191 members states with the expertise, facilities, real-time information, and rapid access to resources to effectively address the world’s most serious cyber-threats. It will also provide training and skills development on the technical, legal and policy aspects of cybersecurity.
The joint effort by the ITU and IMPACT will provide real-time analysis, aggregation and dissemination of global cyber threat information.
Greater global cooperation
“Cybersecurity is one of the most critical issues of our time,” said Dr Hamadoun Toure, ITU Secretary-General. “It is a global issue, demanding a truly global approach and it is therefore gratifying to see – and to be part of – this growing coalition against cyber-threats worldwide. The collaboration with IMPACT complements our efforts in strengthening cybersecurity and we look forward to expanding the cooperation between governments, the private sector and educational institutions.”
While the GCA will be housed at the IMPACT Centre, ITU will have a ‘virtual showcase’ in Geneva of the early warning system, crisis management and real-time analysis of global cyber threats. IMPACT initiatives, such as the Global Response Centre as well as training and skills development, security assurance, research, and international cooperation will be conducted under the auspices of the GCA.
Last September, the heads of ITU and IMPACT signed an agreement to operationalize the GCA at IMPACT’s Cyberjaya site.
Although the GCA will be housed at the IMPACT centre, ITU will have a “virtual showcase” at its headquarters in Geneva of the early warning system, crisis management and real-time analysis of global cyber threats.
“We are proud to announce that IMPACT’s operations have progressed positively since our inception. From 27 member countries during our launch in May 2008, the collaboration with ITU now allows the 191 ITU Member States access to IMPACT’s facilities and enhanced international cooperation,” said Mohd Noor Amin, Chairman of IMPACT Management Board.
