Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1347847
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 MARCH 2021 13 COMMERCIAL egy. A sixth domain relates to our external environment. We are like that technician who goes to a client with a toolbox equipped with our knowledge, digital platforms, infrastruc- ture, information systems, partners, etc. Our consultants go to a government depart- ment, determine their needs, and then we design, develop, project manage and implement solutions. There are instances where we provide services di- rectly to citizens and business- es, such as through awareness campaigns to increase the use of digital technologies. Finally, is the internal domain. Just like any other organisa- tions, we have several internal functions and processes that are integral to our work. We administer our tendering pro- cesses, establish procurement frameworks for use by govern- ment and operate within ISO standards and certifications. We run the organisation in a financially sustainable manner and by generating our income through the projects and ser- vices that we deliver. Supporting the seven domains is our most important asset - our employees. We have excel- lent resources in different are- as of the digital field. We take measures to motivate, develop and recognise our employees and have a climate where they can deliver. With reference to the impor- tance of data security and in- formation security ... the use of digital services is on the rise, even with regards to eservic- es offered by the government. But with digital services comes the risk of digital breaches, and that is where cyber security comes in. How big is the risk of all this personal data collected being breached? If you are looking for zero risk, maybe you should lock yourself in a room with no access to the outside world. But that is not the reality we live in. On the contrary, as you said, the use and spectrum of digital servic- es is increasing, as more and more functions are switched to a digital platform. So, the only option one has, is to put in place appropriate measures to protect data, systems and people using them. We invest heavily in information security, while building the systems, an throughout the whole process. We treat the data under our guardianship as the holy grail, and we ensure that we have the tools and resources to always protect it. How do you assuage the fears of people who are wary of new emerging technology, like AI, IoT and blockchain? As part of our strategy, we have put in place a new 'ap- plied research' function, with the aim of using such technol- ogies to help government ad- dress particular pain points or to develop new services. We also anticipate future needs of the Public Administration and design solutions which we then offer to government. In either case, such services are only in- troduced after we do proof of concepts, to test, verify and val- idate. And, importantly, in an- ything that we do, we incorpo- rate security from the ground up, not as an afterthought. So, as to your question – should one be worried? My answer would be that, if you work dil- igently and give due consider- ation to important principles including privacy and securi- ty, these technologies will not pose a risk. How did COVID-19 impact MITA and the services you offer? COVID-19 did not really im- pact the work and services that we provide to government. More than anything, the pan- demic affects us from a human resources point of view, in the sense that some staff work re- motely. However, we are proud that we had already set up a remote working framework which was implemented be- fore the pandemic hit us. So we could continue with our services, practically without disruptions. We also provide essential services, including as- sisting the health department in various instances. We were involved in the setting up of the swab centres, the development of the contact tracing app and the Tele-Medicine initiative. As we talk, we continue to en- sure that the government can keep functioning and we there- fore ensure access to email, websites and collaboration sites, as well as access to line of business systems, be they used by the health department, the law courts, social services and customs. Finally, what is that excites you most personally about this new strategy plan? I have been at MITA for 27 years, and what excites me and motivates me most is the fact that, what we do is part of a much bigger picture. What we deliver ensures that govern- ment can keep on functioning and do so more efficiently. It is not just us, let us be clear, but we are an important cog in the wheel that keeps the country running. Moreover, the fast advances in technology brings about new opportunities and challenges, which is already exciting. The fact that, at MITA, we can em- ploy such technologies to bring about further benefits to our society, excites me even more. Economy Minister Silvio Schembri government at core of MITA strategy