Cybersecurity leaders in country that established ties with Israel in US-brokered agreement say it’s important to tackle common cyber threats together
Countries that have signed the Abraham Accords are coming together to build a regional cyber dome to counter common cybersecurity threats.
The venture was announced at Cybertech Global 2023 in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
Counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and the United States took part in the main stage of the event, and Gaby Portnoy, Director General of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, explained Israel’s intention to build an Iron Dome to protect cyberspace. discuss and build a regional joint cyber defense network with Israeli allies in the region and the United States.
Former CIA Director General David H. Petraeus (Ret.) told The Media Line that the dynamics of the world have changed and power is now the key to a good economy, not the other way around as it used to be. Told.
“Geopolitics has evolved in the past from a world of serene globalization, where the economy determines geopolitics, to a world of competition between new great powers, where geopolitics increasingly determines what is possible in terms of economic investment, trade, etc. It’s changed dramatically in a decade.”This is a positive earthquake that’s impacting everything we do today.”
In his speech at the conference, Petraeus emphasized how the world has been through the “weaponization of everything” and thus the “defense of everything” was created.
We need a change in how we build cyber defenses. None of us can defend ourselves alone. Meetings and having clear partnerships are no longer enough. We must move hard towards direct operational cooperation between governments and the private sector and between national governments.
Portnoy noted that the international threat landscape in cyberspace continues to evolve. “The price we are all paying to cyber attackers, state-sponsored agents, freelancers, etc. is getting higher and higher,” he added.
Portnoy noted that everyone at Cybertech Global 2023 was part of the defense team, making particular reference to the international attendees at the conference. But he added that while Israel’s self-defense experience may be very similar to that of other countries in many areas, “we have Iran.”
“Iran is actively organizing campaigns across Israeli cyberspace, but our defenses are as strong as ever and we see their work failing time and time again. “He explained how Israeli security services foiled thousands of cyberattacks from the Islamic Republic in the last year alone.
Portnoy called on Israel’s regional partners, who share the same threat, to build a joint regional Cyber Dome, taking the name of Israel’s long-range missile defense system, the Iron Dome.
“Today, with regional partners honoring our presence, we want to build together a cyberdome for strong regional cyber defense. too low of value,” he continued, announcing that the concept of a joint threat intelligence sharing platform was in motion. platform,” he said.
Robert Silvers, director of strategy, policy and planning at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said the U.S. and Israel have a long history of working together in the area of cybersecurity, and he sees an urgent need for a shift. said it had responded to the explanation. To full cooperation between allies in this field.
“We need a change in how we build cyber defenses. None of us can defend ourselves. It is no longer enough to have meetings and clear partnerships. We must move hard in the direction of direct operational cooperation between national governments, adding that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is spearheading this transformation in how we secure our networks.
Silvers noted that the Department of Homeland Security and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD) are tackling common cyber threats and are investing in technology to address tomorrow’s emerging threats.
“Together we will confront the cyber threat posed by Iran. It is a well-known problem in both countries. Iranian cyber threat actors are continuously improving their offensive cyber capabilities,” he noted. Did.
It is part of diplomatic history, part of cybersecurity history, part of regional history, and a great opportunity to deepen our longstanding security partnership.
He noted reports of Iranian cyberattacks targeting Israeli water utilities and other civilians, and Iran’s involvement in state-sponsored cyberattacks against critical U.S. infrastructure, including financial services, health care, transportation, and dams. Mentioned.
But common threats are just one factor, he added. “In the ironclad relationship that unites DHS and INCD, we have built a model of how national cyber defense agencies should work together.” Exchanging Lessons Learned. We also exchange technical expertise in areas such as cloud he security, maritime cybersecurity, and aviation security.
However, Silvers stressed that securing the US-Israeli network would require engagement across the Middle East. “Today I will take the stage with colleagues from Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. We are extending the Abraham Accords to cybersecurity,” he announced.
“This is part of diplomatic history, part of cybersecurity history, part of regional history, and a great opportunity to deepen our longstanding security partnership,” he concluded.
