Azerbaijan's Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies is coordinating the work of various state bodies in the framework of ensuring the operation of the Electronic Security Center.

The ministry says this effort is believed to protect users from online threats, malware cyber-attacks and other adversities.

For this purpose, the possibility of arranging an information security audit of government agencies and businesses on the basis of their applications is being considered. The audit will be conducted by the National Security Ministry and the Special State Protection Service.

Along with ensuring effective protection against outside threats, it is equally important to organize public awareness work. Therefore, the Electronic Security Center is planning to launch seminars and periodic publication of a "virus bulletin" containing information about the most recent threats. It is also planned to launch a special website in the near future.

The center also intends to cooperate closely with manufacturers of hardware and software platforms in order to attract highly qualified cyber security specialists and to focus attention on further improvement of the professional level of human resources in this field.

These efforts are being made as Azerbaijan is working to boost its ICT sector. 2013 was declared the year of information and communication technologies in January.

Later, in March, President Ilham Aliyev approved the Action Plan on the Year of ICT in Azerbaijan. According to the action plan, it is planned to develop an ICT strategy, improve the registration procedure of the national domain .az, and significantly reduce fees for telecommunication services and internet access in the country.

The plan ensures the functioning of the State Fund for ICT Development, the High Technologies Park, Information Security Center, Virtual Qarabag ICT center, IT University, as well as an increase of the number of provided e-services and the range of users, improvement of the quality of broadband services, transition to digital broadcasting, and introduction of phone number portability.

Moreover, creating and operating a website on the ICT Year as well as conducting a first nationwide research and practical conference on cyber security is expected in April or May.