As a NATO member, Montenegro will get access to all NATO programmes necessary for the protection and improvement of cyber space. However, in order to be able to benefit from those programmes, it will have to adjust its national policies related to cyber security to the collective protection system.
This is what advisor in NATO’s security risk and cyber-crime defence division Catharina Candolin said in an interview with Pobjeda newspaper. She added Montenegro had a lot to do in that respect over the forthcoming period.
“There are many things that the member states, and therefore Montenegro, can do at the national level. Montenegro must adopt a strategy and action plan for the protection of cyberspace. It takes education and training in order to be aware of the situation at all levels and in all times and to know what to take in case of potential attacks. Of course, all members participate in joint trainings and cooperate at both national and international level. These are all things that Montenegro should follow,” she said.
Pointing out that cyber crime is a global problem all countries are facing regardless of their level of socio-economic, technological or industrial development, Candolin said that NATO was constantly working on improving its protection in this field.
“Montenegro as a new member will have access to all our programs. I think you will benefit from it. NATO is investing great efforts in cyber protection and the capacity necessary to defend against cyber attacks. It also supports its member states to strengthen its capacity to protect cyberspace,” she told Pobjeda.
She did not want to comment on accusations against Russia and its alleged involvement in hacker attacks around the world.
However, she explained that the attacks occurred globally and that they were related to the state, but also non-state actors.
Candolin emphasised that the money was usually the main motive of hacker attacks, and that the control of cyberspace was of great importance to the fight against terrorism.
She added that it was never possible to completely prevent cyber attacks and hacking.
“There are a lot of ways to make those activities as unfeasible as possible and not to allow criminals to go unpunished,” Candolin said.
