Today's world holds more cybersecurity threats every day than it did the day before. Expert estimate that Israel faces 100,000 cyber-attacks every day, and 10 times that amount in wartime. Given the constant threat against businesses and the government, Israel's national focus on fostering cybersecurity technology and growth seems almost obvious.
But sometimes, the needs of businesses in a global economy clash with national interests. Navigating a path that takes both into account requires a thoughtful approach from government and the private sector.
Israel's Cybersecurity Needs
One key difficulty of cybersecurity comes in the exponential expansion of the world's connectedness. The Internet of Things creates opportunities for consumers to connect to information in more ways every day, and Israel has taken a leadership position in its growth. But this area also creates some of the greatest security risks for information. Israel and other developed nations must constantly examine and re-examine the vulnerabilities of the information network and find ways to combat them.
In addition, countries have an interest in protecting the cybersecurity techniques they develop from other countries whose interests may not fully align with their own. This is where conflicts arise; successful businesses grow and expand beyond national borders, so the exporting of cybersecurity capabilities can be simultaneously a business necessity and a national concern.
Legal Landscape for Cybersecurity Business
In Israel, a proposed regulation would have subjected all cyber exports in four distinct areas: intrusion software, vulnerability detection, defense technology, and advanced forensics. After careful consideration and listening to the concerns of the industry, the government pulled back and will only be supervising offensive cyber technology being exported. The industry representatives feel confident their concerns have been addressed, with a balance struck to allow defensive technology to be shared outside of the country.
This represents a key moment in the examination of disparate needs between the government and the private sector. Still, the legal and regulatory ground for cybersecurity in and outside of Israel will never fully settle. Technology continues to develop, and the law will continue to respond to the new realities of the day. Working with effective counsel remains critical to managing change and staying abreast of the changes that occur daily.
Source: barlaw.co.il
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