OSCE Office in Yerevan assists Armenia in improving cyber security

YEREVAN, 10 July, 2007 - The OSCE Office in Yerevan handed over today the Armenian translation of the International Standard "Code of Practice for Information Security Management" (ISO 17799) to the National Institute of Standardization, a state company within the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development that maintains the national collection of standards.

The 126-page document was elaborated by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electro-Technical Commission, and translated into Armenian by the OSCE-supported Cyber Security Task Force. It covers a wide range of issues related to managing information safety, such as staffing, managerial, financial, legislative and organizational requirements.

"This Standard is a very useful tool to help managers of government institutions and private companies secure their information flows. It represents a step forward in improving cyber security in the Republic of Armenia," said Carel Hofstra, Politico-Military Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

"Adopting this Standard is a first step; more important is implementing it," said Melkon Gasparyan, Deputy Head of the National Institute of Standardization. "We are looking forward to continuing our co-operation with the OSCE."

Members of the OSCE-supported Cyber Security Task Force (representatives of the National Security Service, the Police, the National Assembly, the Prosecutor's Office, the President's Office and the Armenian National Bureau of Expertise) were present at the event.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan will continue to support Armenia in improving its cyber security by raising awareness and co-ordination among state institutions and helping with drafting national legislation and policies in line with international standards.