By Bahattin Gonultas
ANKARA
The current global technology solutions to deal with cyberattacks remain inadequate, Turkey’s Undersecretary for Defense Industries said Thursday.
Ismail Demir also stressed that cyberattacks against a country’s information system were more dangerous than a physical attack.
Demir made the remarks at the International Cyber Warfare and Security Conference in Ankara.
“Cyberattacks against national information systems and strategic agencies do much more harm than physical damage. Achieving national security, developing information security policies for economic and social development, information security training and cryptology specialists have become important issues,” Demir said.
He said cyberattacks had become major threats the world over, which were capable of putting critical infrastructure of a country out of order.
"Although, many commercial products have been used against these asymmetric structured attacks, unfortunately, these systems and infrastructures are not adequate to counteract these well-organized cyberattacks,” Demir said.
He also stressed on the need for a centralized coordination structure to utilize Turkey’s resources more effectively.
Namik Kaplan, a commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, said cyberspace has no physical borders and the issue of cyberattacks could only be solved through collaboration with national and international institutions.
Kaplan said every country, including Turkey, should have a backup plan for cyberattacks in peace and wartime.
Experts say Turkey is among top ten countries of the world that is subjected to cyberattacks.
Alper Botan, Director of Security Solutions at Thales, said Turkey needed to educate its workforce in cyber security to combat emerging threats. "Turkey will also have to deploy a pro-active defense and cyber intelligence systems to protect its national assets," Botan added.
Safai Tandogan, Cyber Security Product Manager at CTech, said the Turkish government should encourage local businesses to develop new technologies to deal with cyberattacks rather than just importing them from foreign companies.
Ari Knuuti, Vice President for European and Middle East at Codenomicon, said Turkey's determination to create a robust cyber-defense strategy and policy was very ambitious. "We encourage Turkey to use its existing capabilities and build on them with external support," Knuuti said.
Another defense expert said cyber defenses in Turkey should be strengthened with the help of local products.
The conference has been organized by the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries in collaboration with the “Defense Turkey” magazine, Teknokent Defense Industry Cluster, and the Turkey’s Defense and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association.
Turkey has in place a comprehensive national cyber security strategy. Some of Turkey's biggest defense companies, ASELSAN, Havelsan and a computer security firm STM-Defense technologies and engineering corporations work with the government to check the country's defenses against cyberattack.
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