Estonian e-governance academy to support development of cyber diplomacy in Azerbaijan PHOTO

The Estonian e-Governance Academy (eGA) Foundation announced plans to study and support the development of cyber diplomacy in Azerbaijan, Elsa Neeme, eGA’s Senior Cybersecurity Expert said.

Speaking at the 6th Summit of Heads of Government IT Services in Baku, Neeme highlighted the broad opportunities that cooperation with Azerbaijani institutions presents, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

"We plan to actively participate in the development of cyber diplomacy, which is currently coordinated by AZ-CERT together with Romania and the Azerbaijan Cyber Diplomacy Center. This large-scale area of work includes participation in training programs on risk assessment, incident management, implementation of cybersecurity frameworks, development of practical procedures for national and sectoral CERTs, as well as strengthening their capacity. It is also important for us to contribute to the promotion of a society-wide approach, including the protection of personal data," Neeme said.

According to Neeme, eGA’s main goals are to strengthen governance systems in the Eastern Partnership countries, develop effective frameworks for protecting critical infrastructure, and enhance the operational resilience and capabilities of national structures. She also emphasised eGA’s commitment to active participation in Azerbaijani events, including major CISO forums.

"We are proud to return to Baku in October to participate in the Critical Infrastructure Defense Challenge 2025 and cyber war simulation exercises. In addition, much attention is paid to supporting vulnerable groups, in particular women in cybersecurity. In this regard, I am pleased to announce another important event - the Women in Cyber Conference will be held on October 11, which will be a logical continuation of the competition on protecting critical infrastructure," she added.

Tural Mammadov, head of a department at the Special Communication and Information Security State Service (SSSCIS) reported that in the first half of 2025, 95 employees from 47 government institutions were victims of hacker attacks due to lapses in cyber hygiene. Sixteen per cent of those affected held administrative-level privileges. 

"During this period, 62 vulnerabilities were identified in the state information system that allowed access to and collection of personal data," Mammadov said.

Moeover, Allahveran Ismayilov, Deputy Head of SSSCIS, emphasised the growing risks associated with digitalisation.

“Statistical data show that cyberattacks worldwide have more than tripled over the past five years. In the first half of 2025 alone, over 40% of attacks targeting state agencies were directed at critical infrastructure systems. This indicates that any vulnerability can become a strategic risk," he noted. 

Ismayilov also highlighted the launch of Azerbaijan’s “Bug Bounty” program, in line with international practice.

“This initiative shows that state agencies are moving toward an open, collaborative approach. In the modern world, cybersecurity is not only about defending closed systems but also about cooperating with expert communities," he added. 

By Sabina Mammadli