"Cert.lv": Cybersecurity Improvement in Latvia Hindered by Managers' Disinterest and Lack of Specialists

In Latvia, the improvement of cybersecurity is hindered by managers' disinterest and the lack of cybersecurity specialists, said Dana Ludviga, an information systems security analyst and international cooperation manager at "Cert.lv", in an interview with the LETA agency.

Commenting on the factors that hinder cybersecurity improvement in Latvia, Ludviga pointed out that they are the disinterest of managers and the lack of cybersecurity specialists.

These aspects often play a crucial role. If an organization has a skilled and knowledgeable employee, they can do a lot, but without management support and an appropriate system, they cannot provide everything needed for the information technology (IT) infrastructure, regardless of their qualifications.

Therefore, good collaboration is essential, and Ludviga urged managers to openly discuss the current situation and necessary improvements with their IT employees in an informal atmosphere, such as during lunch. The lack of skilled cybersecurity experts is a very significant problem not only in Latvia but worldwide, Ludviga stated.

Moreover, the public sector sometimes struggles to compete with large companies in terms of salaries. However, one option is to invest in the enhancement of the knowledge and skills of existing specialists.

Instead of waiting for a new specialist to emerge, it is possible to send current employees to training and courses, strengthening the specific skills needed for that organization, as the needs of each organization can vary, Ludviga pointed out.