In a significant move towards bolstering national digital defenses, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree establishing a new Cybersecurity Directorate under the Turkish Presidency.

The decree, which was published in the Official Gazette, immediately activates the directorate with a clear outline of its structure, responsibilities, and goals.

Located in the capital, Ankara, the new entity will operate as a public legal body with its own special budget. Its primary mandate is to safeguard Turkey's cyber environment by crafting policies, strategies, and action plans. The directorate is tasked with coordinating cybersecurity activities, enhancing public awareness, education, and understanding of cybersecurity risks, and supporting nationwide information security initiatives.

The establishment of this directorate aims to promote collaboration between public sectors, private businesses, and academic institutions. It will push for the advancement of indigenous cybersecurity technologies, boosting the competitiveness of Turkish entrepreneurs on the international stage through focused R&D, technology transfer, and vulnerability assessments.

In response to potential cyber threats, the directorate will develop emergency response and crisis management protocols. It will also be responsible for legislative drafting and will form interdisciplinary working groups involving government bodies, professional associations, NGOs, private sector stakeholders, and cybersecurity experts.

The organizational structure of the Cybersecurity Directorate includes critical units like the Cyber Defense General Directorate, Cyber Resilience General Directorate, and Ecosystem Development General Directorate, alongside departments dedicated to external affairs, administration, legal advice, and communication.

Furthermore, the decree authorizes the establishment of domestic and international representative offices, with international expansions subject to the president's approval upon the director's recommendation.

This development marks a pivotal step in Turkey's strategy to secure its digital infrastructure and establish itself as a leader in cybersecurity on the global stage. (ILKHA)