The National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska at the regular session held on September 28, 2023, adopted the Law on the Agency for Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Srpska, which was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska No. 90/23 on October 9, 2023.
The goal of the establishment of the Agency for Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Srpska is to ensure systematic development, application of information and communication technologies and electronic administration in the Republic of Srpska, development of information and communication activities, as well as the establishment of supervision in this area.
Some of the most significant responsibilities of the Agency are to develop information and communication technologies, electronic administration, digital identities, information security, as well as to create, monitor and implement strategies in this area. The Agency designs, coordinates, develops, implements functionality and maintains information and communication systems, electronic administration systems and digital identities, as well as information security, promotes and encourages the use of information and communication technologies of the republic’s administrative bodies, local self-government units, institutions, public companies, special authorities through which the regulatory function is exercised, and legal and natural persons entrusted with public authority.
The Agency establishes, develops, uses and maintains interoperable information and communication technologies of electronic administration, a unique interoperable system for electronic data exchange, a unique electronic mailbox, a platform for electronic payments, a unique electronic administration site, an electronic administration portal, and an open data portal, manages key and critical information and communication infrastructure of the republic’s administrative bodies and adopts sectoral security measures in accordance with the law.
The Agency manages a unique information, and communication network of electronic administration, establishes principles, standards and other rules for the provision of electronic administration services of the Republic, the use of the personal and data of the republic’s administrative bodies, manages and coordinates projects of the republic’s administrative bodies that include planning, development and maintenance of information and communication technologies.
In addition to the above, the Agency is in charge of managing the Republic’s CERT, i.e. a special organizational unit for action in emergency cases and the Operational Center for Information Security. The Agency establishes protection mechanisms against computer security problems on the Internet and other risks to the security of information systems of the Republic’s administration.
Essentially, it was necessary to establish a functional and operational certified body in the Republic of Srpska.
It is important to point out that in this way the outflow of personnel in the economic sector caused by the insufficient development of the information and communication industry in the Republic of Srpska is prevented. Therefore, the goal is to directly contribute to the retention and continuous advancement of human resources in the field of information and communication activities. By developing this economic branch, they will have better personal and professional development.
In addition, the establishment of the Agency contributes to the relief of other administrative bodies in maintaining the information and communication infrastructure.
The Law on the Agency for Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Srpska entered into force on October 17, 2023.
Author: Anja Banjac
E-mail: [email protected]
