Holguin: The challenge of Cybersecurity
- Written by Maribel Flamand Sánchez
- Published in Holguin
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Computerization and cybersecurity go hand in hand in Cuba, but the second is marked by the lack of knowledge of internet users.
A dissatisfaction of the Internet client in Cuba was the lack of protection against computer crimes, an issue for which it was implemented a set of regulatory standards aimed at supporting the Comprehensive Policy for Improvement of the Computerization of the Society in Cuba.
“Last year, it was established the Decree Law 370, aimed to comply with the computerization policy of society, as well as issues related to government and electronic commerce, strategies towards companies and organizations around this issue and cybersecurity, ” explained Pablo Avila, a specialist in the Office of Control of the Ministry of Communications (Mincom) in Holguin.
“This provision establishes a set of contraventions and measures for the use of programs, the addition of telecommunications equipment to networks, the creation of data networks and the commercialization of software without the required permission, as well as the circulation of viruses, making counterrevolution and publishing inappropriate content. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions is fined,”he added.
“There are high amounts of penalties that range, in the case of natural persons, from one thousand to three thousand pesos, and for legal persons from three thousand to 10 thousand pesos. A person who disseminate counterrevolutionary propaganda, pornography or computer personnel, who commits negligence in entities or introduces viruses is not only sanctioned by the competent authorities, but is also fined. These issues were not previously regulated by the rules of information and communications,” he explained.
“The decree also includes seizures and suspensions of operating licenses. It is a set of regulations, which will contribute to the cybersecurity issue, so that people become aware and are trained in these issues,”he said.
Decree Law 370 is accompanied by two Decrees, an agreement of the Council of Ministers and six resolutions of the Mincom, which make up the regulations to promote the development and use of ICTs and confirm the right, access and participation of all Cubans in its implementation.
“We are talking about resolutions established in 2019 and about which the institutions still do not know. There is, for example, decree 360, which makes the treatment of incidents associated with cybersecurity official.
"There is also resolution 126, which approves the regulation for the control of computer networks and regulates control measures and types of security tools, which are implemented for private data networks."
“There are other old resolutions but still in force, such as 157 that addresses limited services, which are all those that carry an authorization, and from which is derived the resolution 269, related to the use of satellite antennas, as well as the resolution 98 about distribution of signals. Any person who uses satellite antennas to distribute television signals can be fined up to 20 thousand pesos. There is also the resolution 171 related to the radio spectrum and the use of radio communication equipment. All linked to the cybersecurity necessary for the computerization program and where we still have a lot to go. ”
According to Avila, these regulations must be enforced by the Mincom and the Territorial Control Offices, where there are computer inspectors empowered to apply these regulations, as well as provincial governments.
"Today we have large private networks with many users, homes with wireless equipment to connect and that can be violated by introducing a computer without authorization, therefore for the computerization program cybersecurity is of general interest and one of the most important challenges," he concluded.
