Information Technologies and Communication Authority President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu attended the Applied Cybersecurity Training Event organized in partnership with Teknopark Istanbul, BTK Academy, USOM, and the Cyber Clubs Union. The program, aimed at enhancing knowledge and skills in the field of cybersecurity, saw intensive participation.
Speaking at the event, Information Technologies and Communication Authority President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu stated that information and communication technologies are gaining ever greater importance in a rapidly digitalizing world. Karagözoğlu said, “Technology has entered our lives more than ever in various fields such as education, communication, trade, health services, and defense. Therefore, ensuring the security of the technologies that permeate our lives is becoming an increasingly important task.”
Expressing that critical infrastructures have become targets for cybercriminals along with the increasing amount of data today, Karagözoğlu said, “The transfer, production, sharing, access, digitalization of interactions, and connection of objects to the internet digitally have led to the massive scale of produced, stored, and transmitted data volumes, further increasing this importance. All these infrastructures, which are becoming increasingly dependent on information and communication technologies, are turning into targets for cybercriminals.”
Stating that cyberattacks are seen as one of the biggest global risks after climate change and pandemics, President Karagözoğlu said, “According to research, a cyberattack occurs every 11 seconds. In these attacks, our personal data is targeted, and our personal and corporate computers and systems are attempted to be taken under control.”
Drawing attention to the importance of cybersecurity for the security and independence of countries, Karagözoğlu said, “In today’s world, for the security and independence of countries, it is necessary to establish effective defense systems in the cyber domain and to make emergency preparedness robust. Detecting attacks immediately when they occur, building virtual or physical barriers, and developing cyber security policies at regional and national levels are of great importance. Our country is among the countries that conduct pioneering studies in the field of cybersecurity and take significant steps especially in technical, legal, and organizational aspects.”
President Karagözoğlu: We Proceed with a Domestic and National Production Awareness in All Our Projects
Stating that they continue their efforts at full speed to contribute to the development of the cybersecurity ecosystem as the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, Karagözoğlu said, “With the National Cyber Incident Response Center (USOM) and Cyber Incident Response Teams (SOME) established under our institution, we protect our cyber homeland with our 7/24 operations day and night without interruption. As of February 2024, with 14 Sectoral SOMEs and 2,212 Corporate SOMEs operating under USOM coordination, and 7,501 cybersecurity experts working within these structures, efforts are being carried out to protect our country’s cyber domain.”
Emphasizing that they aim for nationalization in every field, Karagözoğlu said, “We proceed with a domestic and national production awareness in all our projects. In this context, against the diversification of cyberattack techniques and the increasing threats, we ensure the detection and prevention of threats with the least cost, in the shortest time, and with a proactive approach through domestic and national projects such as KASIRGA, AVCI, AZAD, ATMACA, and KULE, which can be expressed in millions of dollars.”
Stating that they consider investment in human resources as the most valuable investment, President Karagözoğlu said, “We continue to increase the training efforts initiated by BTK Academy nationwide. I proudly inform you that the number of users of BTK Academy, established to reach everyone who demands it, especially our children and youth across the country, has exceeded 2 million.”
Karagözoğlu concluded his speech by saying, “Through cyber exercises, various competitions and events, as well as trainings conducted under BTK Academy, we aim to develop our youth in the field of cybersecurity, enhance their competencies, and unleash their potential. In every effort that facilitates people’s lives and contributes to their well-being in the field of information and communication, we stand together with all our stakeholders every day with even stronger motivation.”
Following the speeches, the program ended with the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Information Technologies and Communication Authority and Teknopark Istanbul.