OSCE workshop promotes classification system for cyber incidents to strengthen cyber security in Moldova

On 29 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized a workshop on cyber incident classification for 14 cyber security policy and technical experts comprising 6 men and 8 women in Chisinau. The workshop focused on how to develop and implement a cyber incident classification system, which offers a common system for understanding and defining what a cyber incident is, ensuring consistency in crisis management tools and plans.

The workshop was tailored to Moldova's specific needs in building a national cyber incident classification system. With the rapid increase in incidents threatening cyber security in the country, experts stressed the importance of establishing this system to ensure effective prioritization and management, particularly for incidents impacting critical infrastructure.

“Cyber security is an ever-growing challenge, and the Republic of Moldova is fully committed to building a resilient cyber security ecosystem to protect our citizens, businesses and critical infrastructure. We are confident that with the help of our partners, we can quickly become a reliable counterpart in the fight against cyber threats,” said Mihai Lupascu, Director of Agency for Cybersecurity of Republic of Moldova.

“Cyber security also needs to be addressed on a broader level. On a multilateral level, the OSCE through initiatives like today’s workshop plays a crucial role in advancing cyber capabilities and fostering exchange of best practices among the OSCE participating States. Developing a national cyber incident classification system is a key step in managing the thousands of cyber threats which states like Moldova or Germany face daily,” emphasized Magdalena Poirier from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Moldova.

“States cannot beat back or attend to all cyber incidents. This is why we need to develop a system to classify national cyber incidents, so we know where to apply the state’s resources to deal with cyber threats,” said Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

Participants also engaged in a table-top exercise aimed at exploring the practical application of the OSCE’s 16 cyber/ICT security confidence-building measures (CBMs). These measures are designed to address misunderstandings and misperceptions in cyberspace by fostering transparency, communication and co-operation between the OSCE participating States. The exercise demonstrated how CBMs can help prevent escalation during a cyber incident and highlighted the critical role of cross-border co-operation in protecting critical infrastructure.

The workshop is part of the project “Facilitation of the Development and Implementation of National Cyber Incident Severity Scales (NCISS) and Related Measures to Protect Critical Infrastructures”, which is funded by France and Germany.