Information Security Issues Discussed in Sochi

On July 4–7, the 10th Southern Information Security Forum was held in Sochi. 

According to Aleksandr Zhukov, head of the Infoforum National Information Security Forum, representatives of 59 regions of the Russian Federation, including new regions of the country, registered for 2023 Infoforum Sochi. In addition, the event was attended by delegates from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and representatives of the CSTO and SCO.

The main topic of the Southern Infoforum was Digital Transformation and New Challenges of Information Security.

“The first shock after the beginning of massive cyberattacks on Russian IT systems has passed. It seems that the owners of information resources have relaxed, thinking that everything will go on like this. No, it will not be like that, we should prepare for even stronger cyberattacks,” – said Nikolai Murashov, deputy head of NCIRCC, at the forum.

As you may recall, in 2014–2015 the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly adopted recommendations on the approximation and harmonization of national legislation of CSTO Member States in the field of information and communication security, as well as in the field of security of critical facilities.

In 2016, a collective monograph Paradigm of Legal Regulation of International Information Security: An Case of the CIS and CSTO Experience was published.

The work in 2017 resulted in the adoption of the CSTO model laws On State Secrets, Recommendations on Improvement of the Criminal Legislation of the CSTO Member States on Combating Information Offenses and Recommendations on Law Enforcement Analytics.

In 2018, the CSTO adopted model laws On Ensuring National Security; On the Security of Critical Facilities; On Information Warfare Against Terrorism and Extremism; Recommendations on Ensuring Internal Stability and Counteracting Technologies of External Destructive Impact.

In 2019, the Recommended List of Elements of Crimes and Administrative Offences in the Field of Ensuring the Information Security of Individuals, Society and the State for the CSTO Member States was adopted.

In 2020, the Concept Action Plan and Toolbox to Counter Cyber Challenges and Threats was finalized. 

The CSTO model law on Information Security; Recommendations on Improving Legislation to Ensure Protection of Electoral Processes and Sovereignty in the CSTO Member States and Recommendations to Counter Risks of Uncontrolled Proliferation of Virtual Assets were adopted as part of the Assembly’s 2025 Lawmaking Action Plan; the CSTO model laws On Security of Critical Information Infrastructure and On Information Protection and Cyber Security and other recommendations related to information security are being prepared.