2 months ago
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The Government of Jamaica plans to bolster its cybersecurity defences with the creation of a cyber incident response team and a security operations centre – but first it’s trying to determine the availability of expertise for the job within the private sector.
A request for information has been issued by the newly created Information and Communications Technology Authority, called JAMICTA, “to understand the extent to which companies in the local and international marketplace can provide the required service”, the tender document noted.
Submissions are due by July 4.
Depending on responses, the Jamaican government may issue a formal request for proposals, the document noted.
Requests for comment about the project were not answered immediately.
Jamaica reportedly faces more than 43 million cyberattacks annually – most of which are blocked – but a single breach can still cause major disruption. As cyberattacks grow in scale and sophistication globally, the Jamaican government’s planned investment signals a turning point in how the country intends to protect its digital sovereignty and rebuild public confidence in online state services.
JAMICTA is spearheading the initiative seen as part of the broader national digital security strategy. The authority will establish a dedicated cybersecurity unit charged with protecting the country’s expanding digital infrastructure.
Operational since April 2025, the new ICT authority was formed under the ICT Authority Act of 2019, through the merger of eGov Jamaica Limited and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. It seeks to streamline the Government’s ICT services, cutting costs, and enhancing public service delivery.
“Despite ongoing efforts, the Government of Jamaica faces persistent capacity challenges in protecting its digital infrastructure,” the authority said in the tender document, “particularly due to the absence of a centralised, coordinated cybersecurity monitoring and response capability”.
The proposed unit will cover areas such as threat intelligence, incident triage, advisory services, and global coordination, with best-practice frameworks like ISO 27035 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework guiding its structure.
“These initiatives aim to deliver proactive monitoring, rapid incident response, and improved coordination across ministries, departments, agencies, and critical national infrastructure,” JAMICTA said.
This forthcoming team will provide technical, round-the-clock monitoring and will have response capabilities.
English (US) ·