Israel is ramping up its efforts to protect against cyber-attacks from Iran and its proxies.
As per AFP, over 800 Iranian-backed cyber-attacks have been foiled by Israel’s counter-terrorism units since the start of the Gaza War in October. Some of the targets included government organizations and civil infrastructure, such as hospitals in the cities of Haifa and Safed.
Over the past two years, the National Cyber Directorate has reportedly been working to build a centralized, real-time system that protects all of Israeli cyberspace. One cyber defense technology currently being used to help protect critical infrastructure systems such as oil, electricity facilities, and communication networks is the ‘Cyber Dome.’
Designed by Israeli defense company Rafael, the Cyber Dome employs a multi-layered approach to security, utilizing advanced technologies like custom-made server shields, secure remote management, military-grade encryption, and real-time protocol filtering. It also incorporates proprietary sensors and a Secure Logic Infrastructure to provide an extra level of protection.
Iran’s evergrowing threat in the cyberworld also caught the attention of the United States. In April, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on individuals and companies accused of carrying out cyber-attacks on behalf of Iran’s military Cyber-Electronic Command unit.
“Iranian malicious cyber actors continue to target US companies and government entities in a coordinated, multi-pronged campaign intended to destabilize our critical infrastructure and cause harm to our citizens,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson at the time.
