Bolivia’s Armed Forces are set to venture into cyber operations by establishing a Cyber Defense department.
They also plan to integrate cybersecurity studies into the military institution’s academic and training programs.
This move was announced by the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces, as reported by the official ABI agency.
In line with the State Modernization Plan and current regulations, a Cyber Defense department will be set up.
Its main objective will be to coordinate and assemble a skilled cyber force, ready to undertake cyber operations at any given moment.
The department aims to ensure the stability and security of communication systems, IT technologies, energy, services, food security, and other critical systems tied to both the Armed Forces’ and the state’s cybersecurity.
For this mission to be accomplished, commands have been directed to begin structuring a new organizational framework within each force.
This will lead to the inception of a Cyber Defense department, which will subsequently merge with the Joint Cyber Defense Command, establishing a footing for potential executive level state roles.
On the educational front, the Military University ‘Mariscal Bernardino Bilbao Rioja’ will introduce subjects such as Cyber Defense, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence to its academic curriculum.
This aims to enhance competencies and achieve high efficiency in cyber operations. In addition, military and pre-military training will encompass instructions on Cyber Defense, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence.
This intends to impart foundational knowledge on these subjects to young individuals, aged 15 to 18, equipping them against prevalent cyber threats and deceptions stemming from increased internet and social media usage.
In conclusion, a proposition was made to form a unit at the state’s executive level, subordinate to the Defense Ministry, that collaborates with the Chief Command of the Armed Forces.
This unit’s goal would be safeguarding vital infrastructures across strategic and productive sectors and fortifying the defense of the cyber ecosystem.