The government is taking the necessary steps to address the ever-evolving threat of cyber attacks.
This, as iGovTT launched its inaugural National CyberDrill 2025 on Tuesday, aimed at strengthening Trinidad and Tobago’s cyber security resilience.
In his feature address, Minister of Public Administration and Artificial Intelligence, Dominic Smith, emphasised the pressing need to boost the country’s cyber resilience in the government’s drive towards a more digital society.
He said cybersecurity is no longer just a technical necessity but a critical component of modern governance.
“It’s a core pillar of what I consider public trust. It’s also a core pillar of good governance because the world in which we live in, we must be able to trust the government, to trust their policy, to trust that they’re putting mechanisms and plans towards the benefits of the citizens, towards each and every one of you.”
The Minister said there must be urgency in dealing with the ever-evolving threat of cyber attacks.
“There must be urgency dealing with crime. There must be urgency dealing with issues of cyber security. There must be urgency dealing with all matters of national threat, and that is the initiative of this government.”
Minister Smith said the CyberDrill also aims to empower Ministries, departments and agencies with the skills, awareness, and collaborative mindset needed to defend the digital estate.
He noted the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in the process.
“AI can analyse billions of data points in real time to detect billions of anomalies, to predict threats in no way a human ever could. That’s the reality. it allows us to move from reactive defence to predictive defence. from reaction to forward thinking and active defence.”
And what is a cyber drill?
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of iGovTT, Charles Bobb-Semple, outlined the agenda: “Over the next two days, participants will be immersed in a series of hands-on exercises designed to simulate real-world cyber attack scenarios. The drills focusing on open-source intelligence and incident response are meticulously crafted to test our collective readiness, sharpen our skills, and enhance our operational coordination.”
The CyberDrill 2025 ends on Wednesday with a closing and awards ceremony.