Cyberspace is increasingly becoming a convenient platform for preparing and carrying out cybercrime, acts of cyberterrorism and other malicious activities intended to affect national security directly or indirectly. Thus, the penetration of information systems or electronic communications systems belonging to public administration authorities and other public or private institutions and enterprises that handle sensitive information may compromise the confidentiality, integrity or availability of such information and, consequently, cause financial or other damage, including harm to state security. Likewise, the penetration of information systems associated with the critical infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova may lead to unauthorized control over those systems and, consequently, affect economic, social, political, informational, military and other processes.

At the same time, the global nature of information systems and electronic communications networks, as well as the transnational nature of cybercrime, require close coordination among all responsible institutions at both national and global level.

In this context, one of the primary missions is to prevent and counter internal or external attacks originating in the virtual environment and directed against information and electronic communications systems of state importance. In accordance with the legislation in force, this mission is carried out through the following operational processes:

• developing proposals on ensuring information security, developing and promoting state policy, and exercising oversight in the field of protecting information classified as a state secret in cyberspace;

• creating and ensuring the operation and security of government electronic communications systems, developing the strategy and implementing national policy in the field of creating, administering, operating and securing special electronic communications systems;

• providing the country’s leadership, ministries, departments and other public authorities, including those operating abroad, in accordance with the list drawn up by the Government, with government, encrypted, secret and other types of telecommunications, and organizing and ensuring their secure operation;

• detecting radio emissions from transmitting radio-electronic equipment whose activity endangers state security.