Ministry of Science and ICT·KISA Strengthen Security of Non-Face-to-Face Services in Four Key Areas

Providing System Security Solutions

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Recently, due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation, the use of non-face-to-face services such as remote education, work, medical care, and online distribution has increased, prompting the government to strengthen security policies.

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) announced on the 28th that they will promote a pilot project to embed security into non-face-to-face services in four major areas: remote education, work, medical care, and online distribution.

This project supports enhancing the security of non-face-to-face services applying new technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain, biometric recognition, and 5G. It provides security technologies such as identity authentication and verification, prevention of important document forgery and tampering, and data leakage prevention, as well as system security solutions like network access control and web firewalls for non-face-to-face services currently provided (or planned to be provided) to the public.

As COVID-19 has persisted for over a year, the increased use of non-face-to-face services such as remote education and telecommuting means that cybersecurity threats can directly harm the public. Since smart medical care and online distribution are gaining attention as new sales channels, there is a need to strengthen information protection.

As part of the Digital New Deal project, an online integrated briefing session was also held on the same day. The project call for proposals will be conducted next month through the Korea Internet & Security Agency website, including prior specification disclosure. Institutions (such as school corporations) or companies providing non-face-to-face services wishing to apply should form a consortium with information security companies and submit their applications.

Seunghyun Son, Director of Information Security Network Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We have made efforts to immediately implement new vulnerability measures through security notices and distribute information security practice guidelines when necessary, and even at the early stages of service development, it is necessary to approach security systematically.” He added, “In the era of digital transformation, we will expand non-face-to-face services that have reached the daily lives of the public into highly reliable services and support a safe Digital New Deal enjoyed by all citizens.”