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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
 Today
the Organization of American States (OAS) and Microsoft signed a
cooperation agreement to strengthen efforts made by the OAS Cyber
Security Program over the last ten years. The signing of the agreement
took place at Microsoft’s headquarters in Washington
State.
The OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza, said the agreement is
“another example of the OAS’ commitment to working with relevant actors
in the Americas. This partnership will have both hemispheric and global
benefits as we seek to strengthen the cyber
security capabilities of our member countries. New technologies are
critical for development and security and we must keep in mind that
cyber threats are continuously evolving.” Insulza concluded by
mentioning that new threats “push the OAS to promote public-private
partnerships on cyber issues, a subject that is central to the future
of our region.”
Brad Smith, Microsoft Executive Vice President and General Counsel, said
“cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated in preying on consumers
and no one organization can fight them alone. The agreement we’ve signed
today will help the private and public sectors
fight cybercrime more effectively, and make the internet safer for
all.”
The OAS Secretary for Multidimensional Security, Adam Blackwell, signed
the agreement on behalf of the hemispheric institution. He described the
alliance as another example of the commitment the OAS has displayed in
promoting public-private partnerships, particularly
in cyber issues, which have taken on a steadily increasing importance
in recent years. Ambassador Blackwell noted that “in our hyper connected
world, cyber-crime and threats to cyber security affect us all, and we
need comprehensive strategies to mitigate
the risks these pose. Our efforts must involve civil society and the
private sector to holistically advance the economic and human
development of our people.”
The agreement enables the two institutions to cooperate on the
implementation of projects that benefit OAS member states and to
complement OAS efforts to implement its
“Comprehensive Inter-American Strategy to Combat Threats to Cyber Security” and the
“Declaration on Strengthening Cyber Security in the Americas,” respectively adopted by OAS Member States in 2004 and 2012.
This partnership will guide joint OAS- and Microsoft-efforts to augment
the abilities of governments in the Americas to respond to and
investigate cyber incidents, as well as to promote better coordination
among cyber security stakeholders at the regional level.
The agreement was signed during the first “Global Cybercrime Enforcement
Summit,” and was held at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington,
United States, which is also the site of Microsoft’s Cyber Crime
Center, which was inaugurated in November 2013.
For more information, please visit the OAS Website at
www.oas.org.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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