Promoting cyber stability through co-operation between States and private sector explored at meeting of OSCE Permanent Council

VIENNA, 12 July 2018 - Co-operation between the OSCE’s participating States and role of public-private partnerships in enhancing cyber stability between States was the focus of today’s OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.

Opening the meeting, Ambassador Alessandro Azzoni, Permanent Representative of Italy to the OSCE and Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, welcomed the contribution that the private sector can bring to ongoing discussions on measures to reduce the risk of conflict stemming from ICTs.

“When it comes to cybersecurity, public-private partnerships between governments and business are essential. In the current cyber domain, along with governmental actors, global tech companies are exploring interesting ways to contribute to boosting security, transparency and safety,” he said.

John Edward Frank, Vice President of EU Government Affairs at Microsoft, said: “The risk to our society is greatly increased by rising nation-state cyber offenses.Global technology companies have the first responsibility to respond to nation-state cyber actions against civilians, but it is a responsibility that must be shared across the entire technology sector, civil society and governments. Only collectively can we better protect and defend citizens.”

The contributions of the private sector to inter-state cyber stability have been recognized by the OSCE as essential since the private sector owns and operates most of the ICT infrastructure that would be targeted during cyber incidents that could lead to tensions between States.

Ambassador Azzoni also underlined the pioneering role of the OSCE in the area of cybersecurity and the organization’s contribution to reducing the risks stemming from the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs).

“The OSCE is the regional security organization with the most advanced toolbox to reduce potential risks of conflict stemming from the use of cyber capabilities,” said Ambassador Azzoni. “Italy, as 2018 Chair of the OSCE, is deeply committed to their implementation.”

Since 2013, OSCE participating States have adopted 16 confidence-building measures in the area of cyber/ICT security. They have established, among other things, official contact points and communication lines to prevent possible tensions resulting from cyber activities, and focused on further enhancing co-operation between States — including, for example, to effectively mitigate cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.