He made the declaration at a cybersecurity conference in the southern city of Katowice on Thursday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
During the event, Błaszczak collected the 2023 European Cybersec Award, granted to him for “ceaseless efforts to raise cyber resilience,” including through the creation of Poland’s new cyberspace defence force, according to officials.
In his acceptance speech, Błaszczak told the Cybersec Forum conference that Poland’s newly-created cyberspace defence force “is designed mainly to safeguard the security of the Polish Army’s IT systems.”
Cybersecurity and IT skills
The defence minister stated: “The Polish Army is being equipped with modern weapons that are networked. We are making sure that this network is secure.”
Błaszczak told the conference that the government had launched a special programme to boost cybersecurity skills among the public, the PAP news agency reported.
Under the programme, a growing number of secondary schools are offering training in cybersecurity and modern IT technology, while a new army-affiliated high school has opened in Warsaw to provide an education in information technology, according to officials.
The defence minister also said that the state-run Military Institute of Technology (WAT) in Warsaw had increased the number of students fourfold, "as well as offering new degree courses in cryptology and cybersecurity.”
Błaszczak added: “The aim is to ensure that officers graduating from WAT are prepared to assume positions of command in the cybersecurity defence force.”
'Partnerships for Cyber Resilience'
Błaszczak stressed the importance of protecting Poland’s cyberspace against attacks, the PAP news agency reported.
He told the Cybersec Forum: ”We are aware that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was preceded by a hybrid attack, namely an attempted assault on Ukraine’s military and civilian IT systems.”
Błaszczak stated: “The mission of the cybersecurity defence force is to ensure that such attacks fail.”
“You can rest assured that we’ll protect Poland’s national security, including security in cyberspace,” he declared.
The annual Cybersec Forum conference brings together policymakers, business leaders and experts to discuss the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity, according to officials.
This year’s conference was held under the motto “Partnerships for Cyber Resilience," the PAP news agency reported.
The founder and main organiser of the Cybersec Forum is the Kościuszko Institute, a Polish nongovernmental think tank that aims to promote the country's socioeconomic development and national security, according to officials.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Thursday is day 484 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, niezalezna.pl, cybersecforum.eu
