October 11, 2024 Holding the Cybersecurity Training and Exercise Program for Pacific Island Countries (First Session of FY 2024)

 From October 2 to 10, 2024, the first cybersecurity training and exercise program for Pacific Island Countries in FY 2024 was held in Fiji.
 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will continue to explore the provision of cybersecurity exercises tailored to the current status and needs of Pacific Island countries, including plans to hold a second exercise this year. MIC is committed to enhancing the cybersecurity capacity of these countries.

1. Background and Outline

 Given that cyberspace transcends national borders, promoting international cooperation is essential for ensuring cybersecurity. To mitigate global cybersecurity risks, including those faced by Japan, it is crucial to provide capacity-building support to developing countries, particularly in Indo-Pacific region. This initiative will contribute to the development of international human resources.
 As part of the government’s efforts to promote a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP), MIC has been conducting cybersecurity capacity-building exercises since last fiscal year. The participants include cybersecurity practitioners from relevant government agencies and critical infrastructure providers related to ICT and telecommunications from Pacific Island countries, which are advancing in infrastructure development, digitalization, and occupy strategically important geographic locations.
 From October 2 to 10, 2024, a cybersecurity capacity-building exercise was held in Fiji, including training on fundamental knowledge on cybersecurity and a practical cyber defense exercise (CYDER) (*1), with a total of 29 participants from 13 Pacific Island countries.
 Moving forward, MIC will reflect the results of this exercise into the second exercise scheduled for later this fiscal year. Additionally, MIC will further explore how to provide exercises tailored to the current status and specific needs of cybersecurity in Pacific Island countries, thereby contributing to the development of cybersecurity capacity in these regions.

• (*1)
  CYDER (Cyber Defense Exercise with Recurrence) is a hands-on, practical cyber defense exercise conducted by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan for information systems personnel in national administrative agencies, local governments, independent administrative institutions, and critical infrastructure providers.

2. Event Overview

Date and place: October 2 to 10, 2024, Fiji
Participants: Government officials and critical infrastructure providers related to ICT and telecommunications from Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Cook Islands.
Organizer: MIC
Cooperation: Support for hosting by the Government of Fiji, and provision of online lecture by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).