ANSSI and SMILE Computer Security Agencies Ally Computer Emergency Response Teams

The new National Computer Security Agency (ANSSI), attached to the High Commissioner for National Protection (HCPN), and the economic interest group Security Made in Lëtzebuerg (SMILE) have announced collaboration through their respective Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the framework of national cybersecurity.

ANSSI's CERT, Govcert, is the national authority responsible for the management of security incidents involving public entities, as well as the owners and operators of critical infrastructure. Govcert was mandated to operate the national CERT.

CIRCL, which represents the official CERT of SMILE, was mandated by the government to support and work with the private sector and municipalities to provide risk prevention services and assistance to incidents treatments.

The two entities regularly handle sensitive and confidential data and act on behalf of information security and the national economy.

The goal of the partnership is to create a single point of contact and exchange to better collaborate and coordinate all activities relating to the detection, management and reporting of incidents on a national level. This synergy will also enable more routine sharing of information that will serve in the prevention of and fight against cyber attacks targeting both the public and private sectors.

This single point for reporting incidents will be reachable at soc@ncert.lu.

The High Commissioner for National Protection stated that the time was also ripe for collaboration at a European and international level, claiming that it is essential that the Grand Duchy gathers together strength, dynamism and information security expertise in order to speak with one voice with its foreign partners.

"Luxembourg is an international financial centre and an attractive place for companies active in the field of new technologies," a statement from the High Commissioner read. "The quality and security of communications infrastructures are vital for the country. This collaboration is an integral part of the government plan which aims to develop measures of security and protection of personal data of citizens, businesses and the public sector."