NASSAU, The Bahamas – The country took a significant leap forward in safeguarding its digital infrastructure with the official launch of the National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS) for The Bahamas. The Cabinet-approved strategy outlines the plan for The Bahamas to fortify its cybersecurity framework amid the rising global threat of cyber attacks.

The launch of the NCS marked the beginning of the National Cybersecurity Strategy Workshop that took place from 3 to 6 December 2024, at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, The Bahamas.

The workshop acted as the second phase of the NCS lifecycle, bringing together local stakeholders and international partners with the support of the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State. The partners included representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research and Engineering (MITRE), along with government agencies, critical infrastructure providers, and private sector leaders, to collaborate on prioritising strategic objectives and developing an actionable implementation roadmap for the NCS.

Chargé d’Affairs Kimberly Furnish highlighted the United States’ commitment to international collaboration in the fight against cybercrime, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and shared responsibilities. She stated, “The United States has long supported a collaborative approach to combating cybercrime.  That is why we’re pleased to galvanize support from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research and Engineering (MITRE) to support such important efforts led by the CIRT-BS.”

She also affirmed The United States’ endorsement of digital solidarity, sharing, “Digital solidarity is when we stand together to combat bad actors in cyberspace. We are all vulnerable to bad actors, especially government-funded bad actors, who carry out these acts for either financial gain or to undermine world peace and security.  We will continue to support Bahamian efforts to fight these bad actors, which includes the implementation of The Bahamas National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS)”.

Strengthening Digital Defences with the National Cybersecurity Strategy

CIRT-BS’ National Cybersecurity Strategy provides a comprehensive framework to address the growing cybersecurity challenges the country faces in an interconnected world.

At the core of the strategy are five key pillars:

• Strengthening Governance Frameworks: Establishing clear roles and responsibilities for cybersecurity management;
• Enhancing Incident Response: Improving the nation’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber incidents;
• Protecting Critical Infrastructure: Securing essential services such as banking, healthcare, and utilities from potential cyberattacks;
• Raising Public Awareness: Educating businesses and individuals on best practices to safeguard their information; and,
• Improving Law Enforcement: Strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement to combat cybercrime effectively.

This strategy positions The Bahamas as a regional leader in cybersecurity, ensuring citizens, businesses, and the government can operate safely in an increasingly digital world.

CIRT-BS Director Sametria McKinney, CISSP, emphasised the importance of the NCS in advancing the security posture of The Bahamas, stating, “This strategy empowers us to tackle both immediate and long-term cybersecurity challenges, outlining critical objectives to enhance our national resilience and safeguard the digital future of our nation. Its success depends on the collective commitment of both the public and private sectors, uniting efforts to strengthen defenses, protect vital infrastructure, and secure a resilient digital economy for generations to come.”

CIRT-BS at the Helm of National Cybersecurity Efforts

Since its launch in December 2023, the National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) has served as the national frontline authority responsible for driving the implementation of the NCS, the focal point for coordinating incident response efforts and providing real-time monitoring of cyber risks. The organisation offers various services including, awareness training, incident management support, event monitoring, and vulnerability assessments.

Because of these efforts, The Bahamas is the first English-speaking Caribbean country to secure membership in the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), reflecting its growing reputation as a regional cybersecurity leader. It also has affiliation with several other premier international cybersecurity organisations, including CSIRT Americas of the Organization of American States and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the United States, a key collaborator in the National Cybersecurity Strategy Workshop.

A Look Ahead

As it continues to develop the cybersecurity capacity within The Bahamas, CIRT-BS will continue its relationship-building efforts among its constituency, engaging them in various public and private conferences, workshops, and meetings throughout the first quarter of 2025. Organisations interested in engaging CIRT-BS may do so by submitting a request for meeting at https://www.cirt.bs/request/. These meetings will allow CIRT-BS to better understand the needs of its constituency and establish communication channels for information sharing and incident reporting.

CIRT-BS is a component of the $30 million Digital Transformation to Strengthen Competitiveness project, financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2019. This project falls under the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Digital Transformation Unit. For additional information on CIRT-BS or to report an incident, please visit www.cirt.bs. Connect with CIRT-BS on social media using the handle, cirt_bs.

PHOTO CAPTION

Header: From left to right: Ana Monterroso, Economic Infrastructure Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Nassau; Chuck Bennett, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, Nassau; Sametria McKinney, CISSP, Director of the National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS); Kimberly Furnish, Chargé d’Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, Nassau; Patrick Davis, National Coordinator for Information Technology/Program Manager (NCIT) for the Ministry of Economic Affairs; and Sadiria Hall, Economic Specialist at the U.S. Embassy, Nassau.

1st insert:  From left to right: Adrian Garcia Gonzalez, Mitre; Madison Harnett, CISA; Sandiria Hall, U.S. Embassy; Sametria McKinney, CIRT-BS, Zaynub Jarbu, DOS; Terence Check, CISA, Donnalee Beach, CISA; Suhayla Sibaai, CISA.

2nd insert: Kimberly Furnish, Chargé d’Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, Nassau, The Bahamas, on stage speaking at the National Cybersecurity Strategy Workshop.

3rd insert:  From left to right: Sametria McKinney, CISSP, Director of the National Computer Incident Response Team of The Bahamas (CIRT-BS) and Kimberly Furnish, Chargé d’Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, Nassau, pictured together at the National Cybersecurity Strategy Workshop held from 3 to 6 December 2024, at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas.