KINGSTON, Jamaica- The Ministry of National Security is looking to establish a working group tasked with addressing cybersecurity and cybercrime.

The formation of the multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral group is one of the anticipated outcomes of the ministry’s first CyberSmart Conference, which will be held at the AC Hotel in Kingston on February 11 and 12.

The two-day event will bring together a wide cross-section of sector representatives in Jamaica to discuss cyberthreats, trends and cybersecurity.

Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, Senior Director of the Cyber Intelligence Policy and Incident Response Branch, Trezawnah Gordon, said that the ministry is hoping to have actionable outcomes from the conference.

She said that the establishment of the working group will ensure that “it’s not only when we have an Act to review that we put together a team because there is so much in cyber that needs addressing.”

She noted that the working group will help to drive critical policy agendas and directives that move to bolster Jamaica’s cybercrime and cybersecurity infrastructure.

“We will function as a continuous entity focused on strengthening cybersecurity measures. With participation from a wide cross-section of stakeholders, we will be able to identify and implement necessary policies and frameworks to mitigate cyber threats,” Gordon said.

“Out of that, we’ll probably be able to look at possible policies that need to be implemented, whatever frameworks that we observe as gaps, how we’ll move forward with reducing the skills gap as well. Those are some of the areas that I’d want to see coming out of the conference,” Gordon noted.

The conference will bring together experts from government, law enforcement, academia, and the private sector to address the challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity.

Discussions will focus on cybercrime, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and the financial sector’s role in securing digital transactions.

So far, the conference has garnered strong interest, with registrations from approximately 10 different ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), alongside a significant influx of private-sector participants. This diverse representation underscores the urgency and importance of a coordinated approach to tackling cyberthreats in the local space.

– JIS