Samoa’s Attorney General Su’a Hellene Wallwork was in Fiji last week as the Pacific met to discuss more collaboration to fight cybercrime.

There is continued commitment from Pacific nations including Samoa to provide its people access to meaningful connectivity in a secure cyberspace.

Su’a was at the 4th Annual Pacific Islands law officers Network (PILON) Cybercrime Workshop in Nadi with discussions at the conference revolving around the theme 'Combating cybercrime: Trends and Tools in a Changing World.’

Giving the keynote address at the event, Fiji’s Ministry of Communications acting Permanent Secretary Tupou Baravilala said digital technologies continued to accelerate, and with it, cybersecurity risks continue to become more evident.

"The shift to online spaces has presented a challenge - the attack surface area has increased. Digital technologies continue to accelerate, and with it, cybersecurity risks continue to become more evident," said Ms Baravilala. 

We have seen emerging and evolving threats which are transboundary in nature and which have an impact on international peace and security and thereby, placing cybersecurity as a priority."

Ms. Baravilala emphasised the need to ensure that cybersecurity measures were robust and agile, have stronger protection tools in place so that recovery was swift and business operation disruption was minimised should an attack succeed.

She also called for the need to create a culture of cyber hygiene practices amongst our people.

“It requires all of us, proactively synergising our efforts, and implementing cyber security safeguards and measures. 

"Only then, can we turn the tide on these cyber threat actors which are a threat to peace, security, prosperity and the well-being of our people."

Ms. Baravilala then urged participants at the workshop that in order to improve cybersecurity capabilities and readiness across the Pacific, everyone needs to collaborate and make the most of existing regional networks such as this Pacific Islands law officers Network (PILON), the Pacific Cybersecurity Operational Network (PACSON), and the Pacific Transnational Crime Network through collaboration and information-sharing between these networks.

Last month the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Communications Information and Technology, Lefaoali'i Unutoa Auelua-Fonoti, said a lot of work is needed to ensure that Samoa is safe from cyber-attacks.