Cybersecurity is a major topic at an OSCE workshop being held in Azerbaijan on September 7 and 8. A spokesperson for OSCE warned of Azerbaijan’s vulnerability to cyber attack as information and communication technologies grow within the country calling for more international cooperation.

The warning came as the representative of the Ministry of National Security, Kaarim Karimov spoke of the increase in the number of cybercrimes in the country. Money laundering of funds from computer crimes, robberies involving credit cards, illegal collection and destruction of data, disinformation along with increased activity across transnational criminal groups by means of illegal communication channels are all on the rise.

One of the problems encountered is the reluctance of victims to report crime making it all the easier for the criminal element.

At the same time Azerbaijan has made progress having joined the Council of Europe Convention on cybersecurity and has shown commitment towards combating terrorists use of the Internet.