Digital technologies are ubiquitous: in the lives of individuals, businesses, and government services. But while they are meant to make our lives easier, they also expose us to greater risks. At the national level, the very functioning of society, national security, and the economy are threatened by cyber threats. Hence the importance of implementing measures to ensure the defense and security of information systems. This is where ANSSI comes in. Discover its role, its missions, and how it operates.
What is ANSSI (National Agency for Information Systems Security)?
Created by the decree of July 7, 2009, ANSSI is the national authority of reference in cybersecurity . Its role: to guarantee the security of the State’s information systems, while providing its expertise to administrations and operators of vital importance.
In a tense geopolitical context where cyber threats are a favorite weapon of all types of opposition, the French National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) plays a crucial role. This explains, in particular, its high strategic position. The ANSSI reports to the Prime Minister and is attached to the General Secretariat for Defence and National Security (SGDSN). This allows it to define a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and ensure its coordination across the various government agencies.
What are the missions of ANSSI?
With the objective of ensuring the protection of the nation against cyberattacks, ANSSI must fulfill a series of missions.
1 – Defend
In its role as protector, ANSSI must define and implement a digital security policy to identify vulnerabilities and counter them.
If, unfortunately, hackers manage to penetrate information systems, the interministerial agency must also come to the aid of victims of large-scale cyberattacks.
2 – To know
To guarantee maximum protection against cyberattacks, the National Cybersecurity Agency of France (ANSSI) must have a thorough understanding of the threat. This requires constant monitoring to identify the technologies used by hackers, the most common threats, best practices for protection, the most effective tools, and so on. Overall, ANSSI must be aware of all national and international trends in cybersecurity.
