The five smallest municipalities in Tenerife already have a national certification in cybersecurity. It is a pioneering initiative that only ten other municipalities in the state share. This is the main conclusion of the cybersecurity conference organized by the Cabildo with the support of the National Cryptologic Center (CCN), dependent on the National Intelligence Center (CNI). The objective is to publicize a program that protects the communications and digital services of the local administration.
The five municipalities – Fasnia, Vilaflor de Chasna, El Tanque, Buenavista del Norte and Los Silos – have placed themselves at the forefront in terms of digital security at a national level by obtaining this accreditation, which only fifteen of the more than 8,131 municipalities in Spain have . The island president, Pedro Martín, points out that “an umbrella has been sought that offers protection to the information contained in the citizens’ files” in the Cabildo and in the municipalities.
More than a hundred representatives of local administrations filled the assembly hall of Tenerife Space for the Arts (TEA). Before this audience, Martín encouraged other municipalities on the island to join this initiative to “protect the information that is in local administrations against cyberattacks.” He actually added that in a single month, last October, they had received up to a million. He considers it key to “weave a network that allows us to guarantee the security of Tenerife’s institutions and personal information.” He stressed that “the intention of the Cabildo is not to protect but to work on an equal level with all the municipalities of the Island.”
The event was also attended by the Island Councilor for Finance and Modernization, Berta Pérez; the Minister of Public Administrations, Justice and Security of the Government of the Canary Islands, Julio Pérez; the head of the CCN’s Cybersecurity Regulations and Services area, Pablo López; and the president of the Canarian Federation of Municipalities (FECAM), Maria Concepcion Brito. The latter arrived so on time, just as she was being introduced, that she drew a standing ovation and even some cheers.
Julio Pérez spoke of the global concept of security, valued that the speed at which technological changes occur means that risks also increase and highlighted “the role of the Cabildo, a beacon behind which the rest of us go”.
Berta Pérez stressed that “Our responsibility is to offer secure communication”. He predicted that the initiative will soon reach all municipalities with less than 20,000 inhabitants, the large ones and even other councils »López highlighted the inter-administrative work with state support. Finally, Mari Brito emphasized the provision with “administrative cooperation and co-governance from the Cabildo.”
During the intense day, representatives of different state, regional and local organizations have analyzed aspects related to the security of electronic administration, governance through technology and the implementation of systems in local administration.
