Prague - Last week, the British government launched its "cyber security strategy" aimed at fighting internet criminality and preventing cybernetic attacks. Currently, the country is already employing 15,000 police specialists on cybercrime.
In terms of cybersecurity, Britain is way ahead of other European countries, including the Czech Republic, which won't have its government cybersecurity agency until 2015.
The Czech Republic has pledged, within the EU framework, to create a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) by 2010.
Originally it was planned that the cybersecurity agency would be created within the Czech Interior Ministry. However, the ministry eventually asked for more time, and contracted CZ.NIC, a civic association operating the .cz domain, which currently employs four part-timers to protect the Czech cyberspace.
Read more: EC to finance elite bio-research center near Prague
Read more: "Secret room" tender delays Galileo HQ transfer
"The current solution of the cyberspace protection (in the Czech Republic) is not sufficient," said Stanislav Horčák from the cybernetic and information security department of the Interior Ministry, adding that even though the CZ.NIC team is professional and skilled, it cannot offset the absence of a government CERT.
The CZ.NIC is composed of top experts, however it lacks any actual authority and has no access to confidential information. Even though the team is the only official institution in charge of Czech cybersecurity, it has only a consulting role.
Recently, the responsibility for creating the Czech CERT was moved from the Interior Ministry to National Security Authority (NBU).
Read more: Czech intelligence: Russians closer to Temelín deal
Read more: Huge security breach in Prague: Bomb could get on plane
By the end of March 2012, NBU is expected to present its draft bill on cybersecurity that will set the legal framework for the planned Cybernetic Security Center. The center will have access to confidential information.
NBU Deputy Director Jaroslav Šmíd admits that they are under time pressure. "Our office was given this responsibility (to create CERT) one month ago. The Interior Ministry did nothing in six years. Of course it will be difficult," said Šmíd.
The center is planned to has its seat in Brno and the NBU budget has already been increased by CZK 51mil (approx. EUR 2mil).
The center is expected to start its activity by 2015.
The fact that cybernetic threats are very real has been proven most recently by the Diginotar scandal that ended in the company's bankruptcy.
Earlier this year, RSA -- an important US security contractor for IMF, US Government and some of the largest arms companies -- was hacked.
