Tonga has signed an agreement with Australia to share Cyber Security information in order to be able to manage cyber threats and vulnerabilities for businesses and the Tongan community, such as online scams, banking fraud and identity theft.

The Framework for Operational Collaboration on Cyber Security agreement is between Tonga National CERT and CERT Australia signed by Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni and Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs, Dr Tobias Feakin on 23 May 2017.

Hon. Sovaleni said in a statement the “agreement marks a significant milestone for Tonga to be recognized with the problems happening on Cyber Security”.

He said Tonga faces challenges because it lacks the expertise and capacity needed within its line Ministries as it is still a developing nation.

“Tonga is pushing forward in addressing issues of cyber security and we are happy to see that becoming more operative in the future,” said Dr Feakin.

CERT Australia operates within Australia’s Attorney General’s Department providing the nation’s private sector organisations with information and assistance that will help them to better detect, deter and respond to threats and vulnerabilities.

Tonga National CERT, launched last year, is the first national computer emergency response team in the Pacific Islands, based in Tonga. It is also the first point of contact in Tonga's Government for cyber security issues and like its counterpart in Australia, it provides advice and support on cyber threats and vulnerabilities to owners and operators of Tonga’s critical infrastructure as well as other systems of national interest.

This week, Tonga hosted a cybercrime workshop attended by senior officials from 13 Pacific Island countries to discuss police and prosecutorial responses to cybercrime and electronic evidence.

Related article: Workshop held in Tonga to combat Cybercrime [2]