Government approves National Cybersecurity Strategy for 2026

On Tuesday, 14 March, Cabinet of Ministers approved the draft strategy ‘Cybersecurity Strategy of Latvia for 2023-2026’ prepared by the Ministry of Defence. It defines main areas of policy action in the national cybersecurity policy, provides insight into current cybersecurity environment in Latvia and identifies future challenges.

‘Russian invasion of Ukraine has led to a rapid deterioration of security in our region. Russia poses not only military threats but also increasing hybrid threats that amplify conventional military threats coming from Russia. That is why Latvia has increased focus on more robust cybersecurity strategy, including better governance of cybersecurity measures and intensified international cooperation, improved public awareness and higher institutional readiness and capacity,’ Minister Mūrniece underlined.

Cybersecurity is also becoming a more central element in the comprehensive national defence framework, which defines crisis response actions for government institutions, non-governmental actors, private businesses and individuals, involving all groups of society.

As defined by the Ministry of Defence, the aim of national cybersecurity policy is to build more advanced cyberspace security by 2026 through enhanced digital defence capabilities, higher resilience against cyberattacks and better public awareness of possible threats in the digital space. Aim will be achieved through five main activities: better cybersecurity governance, enhanced cybersecurity arrangements and stronger resilience, public awareness, education and research, international cooperation and rule of law in the digital domain, monitoring and prosecution of cybercrime.

Cybersecurity Strategy is aligned with current legal acts of the European Union (EU) in this area and it is also based on national digital policy documents, which set out development priorities that will ensure balanced development of Latvia’s digital and cybersecurity framework.

As reported earlier, on 7 June 2022, Cabinet of Ministers approved the Information Note ‘On better cybersecurity governance’ prepared by the Ministry of Defence. Cybersecurity governance reform began on 1 January 2023. Latvia is already creating the National Cybersecurity Centre, which will operate under the guidance of Ministry of Defence and CERT.LV, the National Information Technology Security Incident Response Institution. This Centre and Constitutional Protection Bureau will become the core institutions in the cyber security governance framework.

Contact information:
Roberts Skraučs
Head of the Media Relations Section
Military Public Affairs Department
Tel.: 67335393
E-mail: roberts.skraucs@mod.gov.lv