From espionage to phishing: head of Armenia's Information Systems Agency on countering main cyber threats

YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Today, cybersecurity threats are abundant and diverse, encompassing espionage and phishing targeting the general populace of Armenia, said Nerses Yeritsyan, the director of Armenia's Information Systems Agency, in reply to ARKA's inquiry regarding the primary cybersecurity threats encountered by specialists in Armenia and the strategies employed to counter them.

"The level of digitalization in Armenia is not sufficiently advanced to have a substantial effect, but now is the opportune moment to invest in cybersecurity and address these vulnerabilities," Yeritsyan remarked during a panel discussion at the forum titled "Future of the Banking System: Innovations and Development Prospects," which is taking place in Yerevan on September 23-24.

Otherwise, he warns, the repercussions could be significantly more severe, and thus it is imperative to learn from the experiences of others to avoid repeating major cybersecurity errors.

Yeritsyan likened cybersecurity to a pandemic, such as COVID-19, where strict adherence to virus hygiene protocols is essential.

"These viruses will persist indefinitely. It is a matter of collective action for security," stated the head of the Agency.

He expressed that Armenia has considerable progress to make and that its citizens are particularly susceptible. However, he conveyed optimism, noting that "we are starting to tackle this issue, and it will be resolved in a timely fashion."

Yeritsyan also mentioned that the proposed legislation titled "On Cybersecurity" aims to establish a unified body responsible for monitoring, coordinating, and ensuring the functionality of the entire system.

"There are regulatory mechanisms in place, including penalties, but the overarching framework of the law is intended to promote enhanced collaboration among cybersecurity professionals," concluded the head of the Information Systems Agency of Armenia.-0-