International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats

International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT)

IMPACT Global Headquarters
Founded 2008
Type United Nations-affiliated International Organisation
Focus Cybersecurity, Governments, United Nations’ member states, industry, academia
Location
Key people
 Datuk Mohd Noor Amin, Chairman of the IMPACT Management Board
Website impact-alliance.org

The International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (IMPACT) is the first United Nations-backed cybersecurity alliance. Since 2011, IMPACT serves as a key partner of the United Nations' (UN) specialised agency for ICTs - the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).[1]

Being the first comprehensive public-private partnership against cyber threats, IMPACT serves as a politically neutral global platform that brings together governments of the world, industry and academia to enhance the global community’s capabilities in dealing with cyber threats. With a total of 152 countries now formally part of the ITU-IMPACT coalition, and with strong support from industry giants, partners from academia and international organizations, IMPACT is the largest cybersecurity alliance of its kind.[2]

Headquartered in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, IMPACT is the operational home of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA). IMPACT offers ITU’s Member States with access to expertise, facilities and resources to effectively address cyber threats, as well as assisting United Nations agencies in protecting their ICT infrastructures.

The IMPACT initiative was first announced by the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia during the closing ceremony of the 15th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2006, held in the Austin, Texas, United States. [3]

Initially IMPACT was known as the 'International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber-Terrorism'. In 2008, following feedback from member governments and also from IMPACT’s International Advisory Board (IAB) during IMPACT’s official launch at the World Cyber Security Summit 2008 (WCSS), the words 'Cyber Terrorism' in IMPACT's name was changed to 'Cyber Threats' to reflect its wider cybersecurity role. [4]

Facilities at the Global Headquarters

The Launch, IMPACT Global Headquarters

IMPACT’s Global Headquarters was inaugurated on 20 May 2009. It was built on a 28,400 square metre site (seven-acre site) with a built-up area of over 5,400 square metres (58,000 square feet). Modelled after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, United States, IMPACT operates a Global Response Centre (GRC). As the nerve centre of IMPACT, the GRC is fully equipped with a crisis room, IT and communications facilities, a fully functional Security Operations Centre (SOC), well-equipped data centre, on-site broadcasting centre and a VIP viewing gallery. The GRC is involved in securing the objectives of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA) by placing the technical measures to combat newly evolved cyber threats. [5] [6]

IMPACT-Building, Interior and Exterior

Inauguration of the IMPACT Global Headquarters by the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union

The IMPACT Global Headquarters was officially declared open on 20 May 2009 by the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi, witnessed by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and the Secretary-General of the ITU, Hamadoun Touré and IMPACT’s Chairman Datuk Mohd Noor Amin

Through the GRC, IMPACT provides the global community with network early warnings system (NEWS), expert locator, team management, remediation, automated threat analysis system, trend libraries, visualisation of global threats, country-specific threats, incident and case management, trend monitoring and analysis, knowledge base, reporting, and resolution finder among others.

Collaboration with the ITU

IMPACT formally became a key partner of ITU - the United Nations’ (UN) specialised agency, following a Cooperation Agreement signed during the World Summit for Information Society 2011 (WSIS) Forum in Geneva, May 2011. [7]

IMPACT formally became the cybersecurity executing arm of ITU - the United Nations’ (UN) specialised agency

Under the Cooperation Agreement, IMPACT is tasked by ITU with the responsibility of providing cybersecurity assistance and support to ITU’s 193 Member States and also to other organisations within the UN system. The Memorandum of Agreement was officially signed by Hamadoun Touré, the Secretary-General of ITU and Datuk Mohd Noor Amin, Chairman of IMPACT at the ITU’s head office in Geneva. Founded in 1865, ITU is the oldest organisation within the UN system and functions as the UN’s specialised agency for information and communication technologies.

IMPACT’s involvement with ITU began in 2008 when it was named as the physical home of ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda (GCA). The GCA is an international cybersecurity framework that was formulated following deliberations by more than 100 leading experts worldwide. The GCA contains many recommendations, which when adopted and implemented, are intended to provide improved global cybersecurity. Through a Memorandum of Understanding inked in Bangkok back in 2008, IMPACT was named as the physical and operational home of the GCA.

In addition to this, during the 2011 WSIS Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ITU and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which will see IMPACT supporting both organisations in their collaboration to assist UN member states to mitigate risks posed by cybercrime.

Global Response Centre (GRC)

Partner countries of ITU-IMPACT are also given access to a host of specialised services including monitoring, analysis and alerts on cyber threats.

IMPACT’s Global Response Centre (GRC) acts as a global cyber threat resource centre and provides emergency responses to facilitate identification of cyber threats and sharing of resources to assist ITU-UNODC Member States. IMPACT’s Global Response Centre (GRC) collaborates with industry and academia, and hosts a comprehensive database on cyber threats. IMPACT’s Electronically Secure Collaborative Application Platform for Experts (ESCAPE), is designed to connect those responsible for cybersecurity from over 140 countries. It also provides a response mechanism for ITU-IMPACT partner countries.

The other three divisions within IMPACT are Centre for Policy & International Cooperation, Centre for Training & Skills Development and Centre for Security Assurance & Research. These divisions provide consulting and training services, scholarships, reports and expertise to governments, industry and academia in partner countries. [8]

International Advisory Board

As of 2013 International Advisory Board (IAB) members included:

Past members include Vinton G. Cerf, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist, Google, Howard Schmidt, the former White House Cyber Security Coordinator of the Obama and Bush Administrations, United States of America, Mikko Hyppönen, Chief Research Officer of F-Secure, John W. Thompson, former Chairman of the Board, Symantec Corporation and Ayman Hariri, Chairman of Oger Systems.

Under the advisory board, the management team consists of Mohd Noor Amin, Chairman. Management Board, Mohamed Shihab, Advisor (Technical), Mohamed Zaini Bin Mazlan, Advisor (Administration), Anuj Singh, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Phillip Victor, Director of Policy and International Cooperation, and Mohamad Sazly Musa, Director of Security Assurance.

Support

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Working with IMPACT to secure the global information society".
  2. ↑ "ITU-IMPACT establishes first Cybersecurity Innovation Centre for Arab region".
  3. ↑ "Speech at the launch of the IMPACT Global Headquarters".
  4. ↑ "Countering cyber terrorism in third-world countries".
  5. ↑ "Global group against cyber-threats launches HQ in Cyberjaya".
  6. ↑ "IMPACT".
  7. ↑ "IMPACT (International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats)".
  8. ↑ "Global Response Centre".
  9. ↑ "Burkina Faso President announced as new Chairman of IMPACT Advisory Board".
  10. ↑ "Hamadoun Touré".
  11. ↑ "Eugene Kaspersky to participate in the first IMPACT World Cyber Security Summit".
  12. ↑ "Professor Tim Unwin appointed to the IMPACT Advisory Board".
  13. ↑ "ABI Research Brings Cyber Security Expertise to IMPACT International Advisory Board".
  14. ↑ "IMPACT Overview" (PDF).

External links

Video Clips