GENERAL CYBER SECURITY INDICATORS

• 1. Cyber security policy development 1/7 14%
  1

  7 14%
  • 1.1. Cyber security policy unit 0
    0

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    A central government entity (ministry or equivalent) has a specialised official or unit responsible for national cyber security policy development.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 1.2. Cyber security policy coordination format 0
    0

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The central government has a committee, council, working group, etc. for national-level cyber security policy coordination.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 1.3. Cyber security strategy 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The central government has established a national-level cyber security strategy or other equivalent document.

    Accepted references

    Valid official document

    Evidence

    https://mita.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Mita-_Malta-Cyber-Security-Strategy-Book.pdf

    Malta Cyber Security Strategy 2016

    ×
  • 1.4. Cyber security strategy implementation plan 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The central government has established an implementation plan to the national-level cyber security strategy or other equivalent document.

    Accepted references

    Valid official document or its enforcement act

    Evidence

    ×
• 2. Cyber threat analysis and information 1/5 20%
  1

  5 20%
  • 2.1. Cyber threats analysis unit 0
    0

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    A central government entity has a national-level unit that is specialised in national strategic cyber threat situation analysis.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 2.2. Public cyber threat reports are published annually 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The public part of the national cyber threat situation analysis is published at least once a year.

    Accepted references

    Official public report

    Evidence

    ×
  • 2.3. Cyber safety and security website 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Public authorities provide at least one cyber safety and security website for cyber security and ICT professionals, and regular users.

    Accepted references

    Website

    Evidence

    https://www.besmartonline.org.mt/about

    ---

    https://cybersecurity.gov.mt/

    ×
• 3. Education and professional development 5/9 56%
  5

  9 56%
  • 3.1. Cyber safety competencies in primary or secondary education 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Primary or secondary education curricula include cyber safety / computer safety competences.

    Accepted references

    Official curriculum or official report

    Evidence

    https://curriculum.gov.mt/en/Curriculum/Year-9-to-11/Documents/curric_f3_f5/syllabus_computer_studies.pdf

    "Data Security and Privacy" included as a topic in the curriculum (see page 33). The Maltese syllabi for the years 9, 10 and 11 can be accessed here (see Computer Studies). 

    ×
  • 3.2. Bachelor’s level cyber security programme 0
    0

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is at least one cyber security / electronic information security focused programme at Bachelor’s or equivalent level.

    Accepted references

    Accredited study programme

    Evidence

    ×
  • 3.3. Master’s level cyber security programme 2
    2

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is at least one cyber security / electronic information security focused programme at Master’s or equivalent level.

    Accepted references

    Accredited study programme

    Evidence

    https://aum.edu.mt/programs/graduate-program-2/cyber-security/

    ×
  • 3.4. PhD level cyber security programme 0
    0

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is at least one cyber security / electronic information security focused programme at PhD or equivalent level.

    Accepted references

    Accredited study programme

    Evidence

    ×
  • 3.5. Cyber security professional association 2
    2

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is a professional association of cyber/electronic information security specialists, managers or auditors.

    Accepted references

    Website

    Evidence

    https://engage.isaca.org/maltachapter/home

    ×
• 4. Contribution to global cyber security 2/6 33%
  2

  6 33%
  • 4.1. Convention on Cybercrime 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The country has ratified the Convention on Cybercrime.

    Accepted references

    Official website of the convention

    Evidence

    https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/185/signatures?p_auth=zrS8ISMY

    ×
  • 4.2. Representation in international cooperation formats 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government is regularly represented in a cooperation format that is dedicated to international cyber security (e.g. FIRST).

    Accepted references

    Official website of the cooperation format

    Evidence

    https://first.org/members/teams/#malta

    ×
  • 4.3. International cyber security organisation hosted by the country 0
    0

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    A regional or international cyber security organisation is hosted by the country.

    Accepted references

    Organisation’s official website

    Evidence

    ×
  • 4.4. Cyber security capacity building for other countries 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The country has (co-)financed or (co-)organised at least one capacity building project for another country in the last 3 years.

    Accepted references

    Official website or project document

    Evidence

    ×

BASELINE CYBER SECURITY INDICATORS

• 5. Protection of digital services 1/5 20%
  1

  5 20%
  • 5.1. Cyber security responsibility for digital service providers 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    According to legislation, digital service providers (except micro and small enterprises): (1) must manage cyber/ICT risks or (2) must implement established cyber/information security requirements.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2018/216/eng/pdf

    13 (1): Digital service providers shall identify and take appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to manage the risks posed to the security of network and information systems which they use in the context of offering services within Malta referred to in the Third Schedule. Having regard to the state of the art, those measures shall ensure a level of security of network and information systems appropriate to the risk posed, and shall take into account the following elements: (a) the security of systems and facilities, (b) incident handling, (c) business continuity management, (d) monitoring, auditing and testing, (e) compliance with international standards.

    ×
  • 5.2. Cyber security standard for the public sector 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Public sector digital service providers must implement (1) cyber/ICT security requirements (defined by legislation) or (2) a widely recognised security standard.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 5.3. Competent supervisory authority 0
    0

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has a competent authority in the field of cyber/information security that has the power to supervise public and private digital service providers regarding the implementation of cyber/information security requirements.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    ×
• 6. Protection of essential services 5/6 83%
  5

  6 83%
  • 6.1. Operators of essential services are identified 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is a legal act that allows to identify operators of essential services.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11808&l=1

    ---

    https://maltacip.gov.mt/en/About/Pages/About-Us.aspx

    "The Malta CIP Directorate establishes the criteria for the identification and designation of Critical Infrastructures (CI’s), Critical Information Infrastructures (CII’s), and Operators of Essential Services (OES’s) and maintains a national inventory of critical assets within designated Critical Infrastructures and Critical Information Infrastructures."

    ---

    https://maltacip.gov.mt/en/CIP_Structure/Pages/CIP-Unit.aspx

    ×
  • 6.2. Cyber security requirements for operators of essential services 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    According to the legislation, operators of essential services must manage cyber/ICT risks.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2018/216/eng/pdf

    11.(1) The CIIP Unit shall ensure that operators of essential services:

    a)  take appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to manage the risks posed to the security of network and information systems which they use in their operations. Having regard to the state of the art, those measures shall ensure a level of security of network and information systems appropriate to the risk posed;

    b) take appropriate measures to prevent and minimize the impact of incidents affecting the security of the network and information systems used for the provision of such essential services, with a view to ensuring the continuity of those services

    ×
  • 6.3. Competent supervisory authority 3
    3

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has a competent authority in the field of cyber/information security that has the power to supervise operators of essential services, regarding cyber/information security requirements.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=11808&l=1

    Malta Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Unit within Cabinet Office, Office of the Prime Minister

    ---

    https://maltacip.gov.mt/en/About/Pages/About-Us.aspx

    ×
  • 6.4. Regular monitoring of security measures 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Operators of essential services must regularly (at least once every 3 years) provide evidence of the effective implementation of cyber/information security policies (e.g. audit result, documentation, specific report).

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    ×
• 7. E-identification and trust services 7/9 78%
  7

  9 78%
  • 7.1. Unique persistent identifier 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government provides a unique persistent identifier to all citizens, residents, and legal entities. For example, the identifier remains the same after document expiration and name change.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 7.2. Requirements for cryptosystems 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Requirements for cryptosystems in the field of trust services are regulated.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 7.3. Electronic identification 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Electronic identification is regulated.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014R0910&from=EN

    ×
  • 7.4. Electronic signature 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    E-signature is regulated

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014R0910&from=EN

    ×
  • 7.5. Timestamping 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Timestamping is regulated.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014R0910&from=EN

    ×
  • 7.6. Electronic registered delivery service 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Electronic registered delivery service between state entities, citizens and private sector entities is regulated. The service provides legally binding data exchange and guarantees the confidentiality and integrity of information.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014R0910&from=EN

    ×
  • 7.7. Competent supervisory authority 3
    3

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is an authority responsible for the supervision of qualified trust service providers.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    http://justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=27794&l=1

    Section 18: Malta Communications Authority

    ×
• 8. Protection of personal data 4/4 100%
  4

  4 100%
  • 8.1. Personal data protection legislation 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is a legal act for personal data protection.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lp&itemid=29097&l=1

    ×
  • 8.2. Personal data protection authority 3
    3

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is an independent public supervisory authority that is responsible for personal data protection.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    https://idpc.org.mt/our-office/

    “The Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner is the national supervisory authority responsible for monitoring and enforcing the provisions of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act.”

    ×

INCIDENT AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT INDICATORS

• 9. Cyber incidents response 6/6 100%
  6

  6 100%
  • 9.1. Cyber incidents response unit 3
    3

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has a unit (CSIRT, CERT, CIRT, etc.) that is specialised in national-level cyber incident detection and response.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    https://mita.gov.mt/portfolio/digital-security/

     

    MT-CSIRT (Government)

    ---

    https://maltacip.gov.mt/en/CIP_Structure/Pages/CSIRTMalta.aspx

     

    CSIRTMalta (National)

    ×
  • 9.2. Reporting responsibility 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Digital service providers and operators of essential services have an obligation to notify appointed government authorities of cyber security incidents.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    https://legislation.mt/eli/ln/2018/216/eng/pdf

    11 (2): Operators of essential services shall notify the CIIP Unit, without undue delay, of incidents having a significant impact on the continuity of the essential services they provide. Notifications shall include information enabling the CIIP Unit to determine, any local or cross-border impact of the incident. Notification shall not make the notifying party subject to increased liability.

    13 (3): Digital service providers shall without undue delay, notify the CIIP Unit of any incident having a substantial impact on the provision of a service as referenced in the Third Schedule that they offer within Malta. Notifications shall include information to enable the CIIP Unit to determine the significance of any local and cross-border impact. Notification shall not make the notifying party subject to increased liability.

    ×
  • 9.3. Single point of contact for international coordination 2
    2

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has designated a single point of contact for international cyber security coordination.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    https://maltacip.gov.mt/en/About/Pages/About-Us.aspx

    "Malta CIP Directorate acts as (…) the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) on NIS issues communicating and reporting on the above to the European Commission and to ENISA"

    ×
• 10. Cyber crisis management 1/5 20%
  1

  5 20%
  • 10.1. Cyber crisis management plan 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has established a crisis management plan for large-scale cyber incidents.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 10.2. National-level cyber crisis management exercise 0
    0

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has conducted a national-level cyber crisis management exercise or a crisis management exercise with a cyber component in the last 3 years.

    Accepted references

    Exercise document/website or press release

    Evidence

    ×
  • 10.3. Participation in international cyber crisis exercises 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The country's team has participated in an international cyber crisis management exercise in the last 3 years.

    Accepted references

    Exercise document/website or press release

    Evidence

    https://www.enisa.europa.eu/news/enisa-news/eu-member-states-test-rapid-cyber-crisis-management

    "CySOPEx 2021 is testing for the first time today the procedures for prompt and effective cyber crisis management in the EU to face large-scale, cross border cyber-attacks. (...) All Member States and the European Commission are taking part in the exercise (...)."

    ×
  • 10.4. Operational support of volunteers in cyber crises 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The procedures for using volunteers in the field of cyber security are established by legislation.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    ×
• 11. Fight against cybercrime 6/9 67%
  6

  9 67%
  • 11.1. Cybercrimes are criminalised 1
    1

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Cybercrimes are defined by legislation.

    Accepted references

    Legal act

    Evidence

    http://justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8574&l=1

    Criminal Code, Penal Laws, Part II of Crimes and Punishments, Title XI, Sub-title V, 337B-337H (from page 188 onwards)

    ×
  • 11.2. Cybercrime unit 3
    3

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is a government entity with a specific function of combatting cybercrime.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    https://pulizija.gov.mt/en/police-force/police-sections/Pages/Cyber-Crime-Unit.aspx

    Cyber Crime Unit

    ×
  • 11.3. Digital forensics unit 0
    0

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    There is a government entity with a specific function of digital forensics.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 11.4. 24/7 contact point for international cybercrime 2
    2

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The government has designated an international 24/7 contact point for cybercrimes.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    https://rm.coe.int/cyber-list-of-competent-authorities-updated-march-2019-v2/168093755f

    Cybercrime Unit, Malta Police

    ×
• 12. Military cyber operations 0/6 0%
  0

  6 0%
  • 12.1. Cyber operations unit 0
    0

    3

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Military forces have a unit (cyber command, etc.) that is specialised in planning and conducting cyber operations.

    Accepted references

    Official website or legal act

    Evidence

    ×
  • 12.2. Cyber operations exercise 0
    0

    2

    Requirements

    Criteria

    Military forces have conducted a cyber operations exercise or an exercise with a cyber operations component in the country in the last 3 years.

    Accepted references

    Exercise document/website or press release

    Evidence

    ×
  • 12.3. Participation in international cyber exercises 0
    0

    1

    Requirements

    Criteria

    The country's military team has participated in an international cyber operations exercise in the last 3 years.

    Accepted references

    Exercise document/website or press release

    Evidence

    ×