16 October 2025 — The Workshop on Exchange of Experience in the Field of Cybersecurity among the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was held online, organized by the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan – current CICA Chair. The event served as a platform for in-depth discussions on strengthening resilience in cyberspace, enhancing ICT security and relevant technical capacities and promoting awareness and cyber-hygiene across all segments of society.
Opening remarks emphasized the growing importance of public awareness and education in preventing threats in ICT domain. Participants discussed initiatives aimed at schoolchildren — focusing on safe online behavior, cyberbullying prevention and protection of personal data — as well as programs tailored for university students and elderly citizens. Special attention was given to cooperation with financial institutions and telecommunications companies, as well as to the role of public information campaigns, posters and videos in raising digital literacy and promoting responsible use of technology.
The technical segment of the Conference featured presentations by Azerbaijani experts. Mr. Aykhan Huseynli, Senior Cybersecurity Specialist of CERT.AZ, outlined the process of establishing a capable Threat Intelligence Program, emphasizing the need for timely detection and sharing of cyber incidents. Ms. Aysel Hadiyeva from the Innovation and Digital Development Agency delivered a presentation on Cyber Resilience Through Government-Private Sector Collaboration, highlighting national strategies, infrastructure protection, and capacity-building programmes in cyber hygiene and technical competence. Mr. Ismail Asadullayev of the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport presented Building Effective Cybersecurity Collaboration Across Sectors, focusing on cross-sector partnerships, engagement with universities and cooperation mechanisms between the government and private sector.
The discussions also underscored the growing need for cross-border cooperation among national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) — from timely sharing of alerts to coordinated defensive actions. Participants exchanged experience in conducting table-top exercises to test response readiness, and emphasized supporting smaller and less-resourced actors to ensure the security of the entire digital ecosystem.
Discussions covered a wide range of aspects of cybersecurity policy and capacity building, underlining the importance of coordinated approaches, mutual assistance and trust-based exchange of expertise. The meeting reaffirmed that security of and in the use of ICTs has become a vital area of cooperation within CICA’s multidimensional agenda, requiring both national readiness and international solidarity.
