**Ukraine’s Cyber Chief Talks Decentralization and the Need for Tens of Thousands More Computer Whizzes to Combat Russian Hackers**
Oleksandr Potiy, a former brigadier general, is now tasked with guarding Ukraine on the civilian side – far from the battlefield but right at the front line of Russia’s cyber war. As the head of Derzhspetszvyazku, or the State Service of Special Communications, Potiy oversees the protection of Ukraine’s digital infrastructure.
**A New Approach**
Potiy wants to shake up the traditional approach to cybersecurity in Ukraine, which has a reputation for being corrupt. He tells the Kyiv Independent that his priority is to create a new system that prioritizes decentralization and transparency. “We totally changed the approach,” he says.
**The Challenge of Cyber Attacks**
Russia has been launching cyber attacks on Ukraine for years, and the attacks have only intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Despite these attacks, Ukraine has remained remarkably steadfast. However, the agency monitors and tracks upwards of 3,000 attacks each year on the Ukrainian civil government alone – not including military targets.
**The Need for a New Generation of Cyber Security Specialists**
Potiy aims to create a new training and certification scheme to foster a new generation of cyber security specialists. He wants to train tens of thousands of people in Ukraine to have solid jobs in the field. “We have educational institutions that turn out cybersecurity specialists who could provide services,” he says. “But there’s no job market.”
**Decentralization and Data-Sharing**
The agency is taking a model from the European Union’s National Coordination Centers to create a regional network of cyber offices. This will help decentralize cybersecurity efforts and improve data-sharing with Western partners. The Ukrainian government wants to harmonize its practices with EU law, preparing for eventual membership in the union.
**Collaboration with Western Cyber Agencies**
Despite the end of frozen US weapons aid and intel sharing with Ukraine, Potiy’s agency continues to provide its network of data to Western cyber agencies, including the American CISA. “We have a very tight relationship with our American partners and friends,” he says.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
