Russian Federal Security Service Tasked With Defending Against Cyber-attacks

The Russia Federal Security Service (FSS) has been given the responsibility of defending the country against cyber-attacks.

Based on the draft proposal issued on Russian legal information web portal on Friday, the presient’s decree of Jan 15, 2014 on establishing a state system of detection, prevention and elimination of cyber-attacks on Russian digital resources, the amendments will ensure FSB maintain this system, Sputnik reported Saturday.

The FSS is the Russian domestic intelligence agency.

In accordance with the document, the FSB should "organize and carry out work on ensuring operation of the state system and control it."

In July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a package of government bills aimed at protecting the country’s critical information infrastructure against cyberattacks into law.

According to the law, critical infrastructure includes digital systems and telecommunication networks belonging to government agencies, nuclear and aerospace industries, as well as a number of other areas. Creating malware for cyberattacks and causing significant damage to critical infrastructure may be punishable by up to 10 years in jail. The law will enter into force on January 1, 2018.