Zurab Sanikidze – Chairperson of the Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia and Louisa Vinton – Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia, have signed an agreement on cooperation.
In order to strengthen cyber security systems further and develop a unified standard for public sector data collection and management, the Public Service Development Agency is launching a new project – “Support for the Public Service Development Agency through Strengthening Information Security and Administrative Data Management Processes,” which will be implemented in collaboration with the UNDP.
The Agency is one of the leading providers of public services in Georgia and is committed to introducing customer-oriented electronic government. It consistently prioritizes information security and data protection, drawing on international best practices.
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Agency swiftly adapted to the new circumstances and, in order to ensure uninterrupted service for citizens affected by the state of emergency, promptly converted the most popular services to an online format and expanded the range of available remote services.
The expansion of access to electronic services due to the pandemic has presented the Public Service Development Agency, like other organizations worldwide, with cyber security challenges.
As the holder of various civil registry systems and the sole provider of trust electronic services in Georgia, in accordance with the Law of Georgia “On Information Security” and applicable regulations, the Agency is responsible for improving the quality of its information technology systems and data protection, as well as safeguarding against all potential cyber threats. This includes timely detection and rapid response to threats through the implementation and use of the latest technological solutions.
Within this project, the Agency will operate in accordance with Georgian legislation on information security and international best practices in the area of cyber security:
Ø will improve cyber threat prevention, analysis and protection systems;
Ø will ensure the security of the Agency’s information technology infrastructure and services, thereby ensuring uninterrupted operation;
Ø will develop a common standard for data collection and management in the public sector.
As a result of the project, the security of the Agency’s information systems and data will be enhanced, which will significantly contribute to the sustainability and reliability of public services and ensure the effectiveness of e-government initiatives nationwide.
In addition, the data collection and management standards developed for the public sector as part of the project will serve as a key guideline for government agencies as they work to improve their data management processes.
The support to the Public Service Development Agency is part of a wider initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aimed at promoting public administration reform in Georgia, which is being carried out with financial assistance from the United Kingdom.
