The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) has issued important cybersecurity instructions on Thursday to institutions ahead of Defence Day 2026.
What does the alert say?
The alert was issued over suspicions of possible cyber attacks. Institutions have been asked to set up special cyber security control rooms from September 5 to 7, 2026.
Sectoral and provincial Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) have also been told to remain alert.
What safety measures will be taken?
PKCERT said that the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC) will work as the main national cyber coordination centre during Defence Day.
The centre will monitor the cyber situation 24 hours a day. It will also help institutions share important information and respond to major cyber incidents.
The National CERT has asked important institutions to closely monitor their networks, systems, websites and digital services.
Institutions have also been told to immediately report major cyber incidents, suspicious activity and possible security breaches.
Technical teams must remain ready to respond quickly if a cyber attack takes place.
What other security measures have been ordered?
PKCERT has advised government and important institutions to take extra steps to protect their websites, portals, APIs and email services.
Institutions have been told to use web application firewalls and DDoS protection. They have also been asked to keep their web systems updated.
Administrative accounts must be protected with multi-factor authentication and strong security controls.
Institutions have also been instructed to update operating systems and turn off unnecessary services.
Firewalls and systems that detect and block cyberattacks should remain active.
Important databases should not be directly exposed to public IP addresses. Security logs should also be monitored regularly.
PKCERT has further asked institutions to keep disaster recovery sites ready for immediate use.
Offline or air-gapped backups of important systems and data should also be maintained.
Data centres and security operations centres have been advised to have backup internet connections and power supplies in case of an emergency.
