Microsoft Ukraine and the Government of Ukraine have signed a Security Cooperation Agreement (Government Security Program, or GSP), under which the corporation will give the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP) access to source code and technical data on Microsoft software, services and offerings. In addition, the corporation will enable the agency to assess software security through testing at the Microsoft Transparency Center.
Under the agreement, the corporation will also provide timely information on global cyber threats and sources of network attacks, which will help prevent and respond to incidents in the digital space amid the current challenges facing Ukraine.
"The signing of the GSP is in line with international experience in cybersecurity and will make it possible to take a significant step towards ensuring information protection in Ukraine. Cooperation with Microsoft will expand the SSSCIP's ability to assess and ensure reliable protection of national information systems, as well as to develop, build, deploy and maintain secure information systems," said Volodymyr Zvieriev, Head of the SSSCIP.
"Modern threats create new challenges for a country's national security. Microsoft is pleased to have signed the Security Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Ukraine. This partnership will strengthen trust and transparency and will help the SSSCIP enhance cybersecurity and information protection," said Jamie Willie, Director of Information Protection and National Security, Microsoft.
"Today there is an urgent need to create a new, more modern approach to protecting government information systems that will ensure effective control and comprehensive protection of government information and make it possible to counter modern threats effectively," stressed Nadiia Vasylieva, General Manager of Microsoft Ukraine. "The signed Cooperation Agreement is an important step towards building a cyber-secure Ukraine."
The GSP is an important part of Microsoft Ukraine's policy of supporting the Ukrainian government by providing the information needed to ensure reliable cyber defense, real-time situation analysis and audits of IT products, so that the government's work can be built on technologies it can trust. The program also helps strengthen ties and cooperation between Microsoft security specialists and program participants.
The GSP includes the Security Cooperation Program (SCP), a free initiative that enables the government to take part in joint security activities with Microsoft to respond to computer incidents and prevent the consequences of cyberattacks. The goal of the SCP is to help governments respond more effectively to threats to national security, the economy and public safety through joint projects and the exchange of the latest technical information.