Digital Collapse: Expert Explains What a Large-Scale Cyber Attack on State Registers Will Mean for Ukraine.

Massive Attack on State Registers: Expert Shared His Opinion

GovTech expert and co-founder of Strimco, Roman Lanskoy, commented on the recent large-scale cyber attack on state registers of Ukraine in his Facebook post.

On December 19, Russia carried out the largest attack on state registers in recent times. This directly affects Lanskoy's team, as most of their projects are related to collecting and verifying data from the affected registers.

“What happened to the Ministry of Justice systems directly affects our team. Most of our projects interact with one of the three affected registers, pulling in various data for verification. One important release is also being delayed until the situation is resolved,” emphasized Roman Lanskoy.

He also mentioned that while the responsibility for the attack lies with Russia, internal issues need to be addressed. Many Ukrainian agencies work with certain contractors who monopolize access to systems and do not provide adequate protection. Lanskoy considers this a serious problem that needs to be solved.

Vendor Lock-In Problem and Importance of System Updates

Lanskoy pointed out several conclusions related to the situation. He believes that vendor lock-in is a problem and that such attacks are a consequence of this. The expert also claims that there are systems that require particular attention regarding security.

“The damage is significant. Support those who are restoring it! Their operational speed currently determines, without exaggeration, the fate of the country,” he urged.

Lanskoy also noted that many basic registers and critical IT systems are under the internal control of contractors. This leads to the monopolization of access and insufficient data protection. He called for fighting this issue and not supporting companies that employ such practices.

Importance of System Updates and Addressing the Issue

The expert explained that many systems operate with outdated technologies and architecture. He stressed that these systems need to be updated and modified over Time. According to him, tackling these issues is not always successful as many people do not understand their seriousness.

“This situation should be a reason for reflection and changes in the sector. Otherwise, we should prepare for similar problems to arise in other areas, such as pension systems or customs,” he emphasized.

Lanskoy also highlighted the importance of system verification before their launch and the use of security standards. He urged to seriously consider this issue and fight against it as it may have serious consequences for the country.

Scale of Poverty in Specific Registers

The expert also assessed the scale of negative consequences on specific registers. He noted that many business and citizen services depend on the affected registers, leading to their suspension or unavailability. He also emphasized the risks of raiding associated with the malfunction of some registers.

The expert called for attention to this problem and changing the attitude towards it. This will help prevent similar issues in the future and ensure the security and efficiency of state systems.