Global Media Group: Media cybersecurity — matter of national security

Information security, especially in the media sector, is not just a technical issue, but an important part of state security, Global Media Group board member Orkhan Mammadov said. 

Speaking at a public debate in parliament titled “Cyberattacks on Azerbaijani Media Resources,” organised by the temporary commission on countering foreign interference and hybrid threats, Mammadov recalled a large-scale cyberattack on February 20 that disrupted several major Azerbaijani news portals, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

According to him, the attack began at around 10 a.m. and initially targeted Baku TV's internal servers before spreading to several leading news websites, including report.az, oxu.az, baku.ws, caliber.az, and media.az. 

"As a result of the prompt intervention of our IT team and the relevant agencies, the spread of the virus was stopped. However, unfortunately, there was a loss of data on some servers, and the operation of the sites was disrupted, albeit for a short time," he noted. 

Despite using advanced security systems recommended by international experts, Mammadov said the attackers managed to breach the network.

"Nevertheless, the hackers were able to overcome the defence barrier using very high-level and little-known methods. This once again showed that the level of preparation of the opposing side was unusually strong," he noted.

In response to the incident, Global Media Group has moved its websites to a more secure data centre, rebuilt its server infrastructure, and strengthened cooperation with international cybersecurity firms.

“Regular investment and preventive measures are necessary in this regard,” Mammadov added.

By Sabina Mammadli