IBM has secured a five-year contract with $26m in initial funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support its Cybersecurity Protection and Response (CPR) program.
The program is aimed to expand and enhance the agency’s cybersecurity response support for host governments in the Europe and Eurasia (E&E) region.
IBM’s multidisciplinary team will provide the continuous assistance needed to help USAID strengthen the ability of host government agencies and critical infrastructure operators to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks.
The rapid development and adoption of technology globally holds the promise of a new, empowered, and digitally enabled society. However, technologies and services built on infrastructures with security risks can make it almost impossible for governments and critical infrastructure operators to combat cyber threats.
By providing cybersecurity-related program management, incident response, capacity building and other services, IBM will help advance USAID’s mission to build a secured, interoperable, and resilient digital ecosystem in the E&E region.
“USAID is working toward a future where digital technology promotes inclusive growth, fosters resilient and democratic societies, and empowers everyone, including those most vulnerable and marginalised,” said Ambassador Erin E. McKee, Assistant Administrator, Europe and Eurasia Bureau for USAID. “Working with IBM and leveraging the company’s global experience and leadership in cybersecurity services, we are one step closer to meeting our strategic goals of improving development and humanitarian assistance outcomes through the use of digital technology and strengthening open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems.”
“For USAID host countries to benefit from IT modernisation efforts, they must incorporate cyber threat mitigation and capacity-building into their program design and implementation,” said Alice Fakir, Partner, Lead of Cybersecurity Services, U.S. Federal Market for IBM Consulting. “Cybersecurity is officially a global development challenge, and IBM is proud to partner with USAID by supporting the integration of cybersecurity across a host country’s civilian IT infrastructure.”
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