A cybersecurity bill drafted by the Cabinet aimed at countering network attacks and protecting the nation’s sensitive information would need at least an additional 1,000 qualified information security specialists to implement effectively, Cabinet sources said.
The reading of the information security management draft bill has been postponed until the next session of the legislature to address the personnel shortage and other issues.
Various higher-level departments under the purview of the Cabinet have reported that their information-security staff are part-time and of an insufficient quantity to meet the changes to their roles proposed in the bill, sources said.
Several regional government departments have reported that their increased personnel needs would be even more pressing, as they only employ one or two cybersecurity staff, the sources said.
National Development Council Director Chien Hung-wei (簡宏偉) yesterday said that his agency is looking at short-term solutions to the shortfall, such as outsourcing work or hiring contractors.
In the long term the government would institute an information-security training program for government staff, he said.
The Cabinet is assessing information-security personnel needs at both central and regional levels, and plans to release a short and mid-term strategic plan once a complete assessment has been made, he said.
The government’s information-security needs cannot be solved by throwing money at the problem, as the work is very complex and requires talented professional personnel, academics said.
The government must be resolute in its execution of an information-security program, they said.
The program should not be executed from a management perspective, National Cheng Kung University Department of Electrical Engineering professor Lee Chung-hsien (李忠憲) said, adding that the bill’s name should be changed to reflect its aim of “promoting” rather than “managing” information security.
The aim of the bill should be to assist organizations with the protection of sensitive data, Lee said, adding that managing organizations and penalizing those that leak data are only aspects of the overall task.
The government must strengthen organizations’ abilities to carry out protection of sensitive information, Lee said, adding that it should be flexible in its employment of qualified personnel.
The government must proceed on the basis of established standards and regulations for information security, Lee said, adding that a special task force is needed to “put out fires” when network attacks occur.
The government should act to pass the bill quickly to show its determination on the issue and a clause could be added to allow relevant organizations time to adequately prepare, National Chiao Tung University computer science professor Lin Ying-ta (林盈達) said.
Solving the issue would require the senior officials of all relevant organizations to recognize the seriousness of protecting their information, National Taiwan University electrical engineering professor Lin Tsung-nan (林宗男) said.
The organizations should solve the staff shortfall by hiring from within their own ranks, Lin said, adding that the government must show its resolve by allocating an appropriate budget.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old