Latvia plans to establish National Cyber Security Center by the summer

RIGA - It is planned to establish a National Cyber Security Center under the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Latvia by the summer of this year.

The MoD has prepared an informative report on improving the state's cyber security governance for consideration by the government, and the draft government decision provides for the Ministry to implement the functions and responsibilities of the Latvian National Contact Point and the competent authority in cyber security matters. It is planned that the government will have to decide on the establishment of the National Cyber Security Center from July 1.

The center is necessary taking into account the scope and complexity of MoD and Cert.lv cyber security tasks, as well as the expected increase in the number of tasks related to the new functions and responsibilities arising from EU legislation, and especially taking into account the need to strengthen national cybersecurity in the context of the introduction of the comprehensive national defense plan.

The center would also implement both the functions currently performed by the National Cyber Security Policy Coordination Division of the Ministry of Defense and the planned functions arising from new EU legislation and initiatives.

Among the center's functions would be the development of cyber security policy, both nationally and through EU and NATO initiatives. The functions of the center would also be international cooperation in the field of cyber security, coordination of the establishment of information systems of public administration institutions and continuous evaluation of their cyber security, as well as providing recommendations on cyber security issues and penalties in case of non-compliance.

The center's functions would also include monitoring the cyber security requirements of basic service providers and digital service providers, and imposing administrative penalties for non-compliance with implementing conditions after repeatedly being required to do so.

The center would also oversee cyber security certification, electronic identification and trust service providers.