BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Key Figures Stress the Importance of Data Protection and Cybersecurity in Algeria’s Digital Shift
Algiers, Algeria | April 26th, 2025 — In a key session at the National Seminar on the Evaluation of Digital Transformation in the National Education Sector, held on Saturday in Algiers, General Abdeslam Belghoul, Director-General of the Agency for Information Systems Security, delivered an in-depth presentation titled “National Information Systems Security: Threats, Challenges, and Strategy”. He emphasized the vital need for integrating cybersecurity measures into educational frameworks and fostering a culture of security awareness among the next generation of students.
Belghoul underscored that cybersecurity must be embedded in the national educational curriculum, a move essential to preparing students for the digital world and mitigating the ever-increasing risks of cyberattacks. “The importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated as we transition into a digital era fraught with evolving threats,” Belghoul remarked, urging the education sector to prioritize these concerns in its digital transformation agenda.
His contribution further illuminated Algeria’s strategic approach to securing its digital infrastructure. Belghoul pointed to the country’s reliance on the National Information Systems Security Framework, established by Presidential Decree No. 05-20, which sets the stage for a national response to cyber threats. The framework operates through two key institutions: the National Information Systems Security Council and the Information Systems Security Agency, both dedicated to designing strategies to protect Algeria from cyberattacks.
In the same seminar, Mohamed Zanim, the Director of Legal Affairs and Compliance at the National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data, reinforced the message of digital security by advocating for the creation of an “Information Technology and Confidentiality Charter” and additional safeguards to protect personal data in the digital age. Zanim stressed the urgent need to cultivate a culture of data protection from early educational stages, especially given the rising concerns over data privacy in an increasingly digital society.
Sofiane Bouzid, a representative from the High Commission for Digitization, also presented the ongoing initiatives within Algeria’s national digital transformation strategy. Key projects highlighted included the National Interoperability Platform, the Interactive National Portal for Digital Services, and the creation of two new data centers. Bouzid also spoke about the establishment of a secure, sovereign network that connects various government sectors, marking a significant step toward Algeria’s digital governance objectives.
Together, the speakers at this national dialogue emphasized the essential role of digital governance and cybersecurity in shaping a secure, resilient educational system that is prepared for the challenges of the digital future.
