CYBERSECURITY was the main topic of the Marianas Working Group’s tech symposium at Aqua Resort Club on Thursday.
The symposium was also the second meeting between CNMI and Guam government officials after the working group’s inauguration in 2020.
Over 100 professionals, lawmakers, government staff and business owners from Guam and the CNMI participated in this year’s event, which also discussed broadband expansion, advanced internet systems, and the role of technology in emergency communications.
In an interview, CNMI Department of Finance Chief Information Officer Clifford H. Aldan said: “Everyone here has a voice, and this symposium is an avenue to air out concerns so that we as leaders will be able to address them and put it on our list of priorities.”
Aldan noted that broadband advancement is critical to government operations and in the daily lives of the people.
“We depend on the reliability and the accessibility of broadband to get our work done or even get the education that we need especially during the pandemic,” he said.
Personal data theft
and cybersecurity
Brendan Montagne, a senior program manager of MS-ISAC, discussed the importance of cybersecurity.
MS-ISAC is a resource center for cyber threat prevention, protection, response, and recovery for U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial government entities.
According to Montagne, online scammers are going after government agencies, schools, hospitals and people “every single day.”
He said 77% of cyber threats happen on social media. “We have to act quickly because these [cyber threats] are putting people’s lives in danger,” he added.
Recent U.S. Census data indicated that 96.7% of households in the CNMI have a computer and 84% have subscribed to broadband internet.
Among the symposium participants is Cris Rivera, a victim of cyber fraud. He said he is glad that the authorities are holding symposiums on cybersecurity.
“Every transaction we do involves the internet and as a business owner, it is necessary for us to be equipped with information about cyber threats and security,” he added.
At the symposium on Thursday, the Guam government and private sector were represented by Frank Lujan, chief technology officer of the government of Guam; Charlie Hermosa, general manager of APL Guam Micronesia; and Paul Rolinski, supervisor of Guam’s emergency medical dispatchers.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, for his part, thanked the Marianas Working Group for hosting the symposium.
“We hope to continue developing policies and solutions for the benefit of the entire Marianas,” he added.
On Sept. 27, 2022, the governor signed a proclamation designating October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
“As we continue to embrace technology [in] our daily lives,” the governor said, “I call upon the people of the CNMI to recognize the importance of cybersecurity education in the 21st century, as well as the importance [of] taking the necessary steps to ensure each person’s online safety and privacy. This month, I encourage our community to spread awareness [of] the issue of cybersecurity threats and challenges, and how we can implement effective cybersecurity practices and resources to keep our people and islands safe.”
The Marianas Working Group symposium participants discuss cybersecurity issues.
From left, Brian Beck, CNMI’s FEMA integration team lead; Frank Lujan, chief of technology officer of the government of Guam; Clifford Aldan, chief information officer for the CNMI Department of Finance; and Peter Dresslar, senior advisor, broadband and digital equity of the CNMI Office of Planning Development.
