Algeria Strengthens Cybersecurity Framework to Protect National Infrastructure

In a strategic move to safeguard its digital sovereignty, Algeria has implemented a comprehensive institutional and regulatory framework aimed at countering cyber threats and protecting critical national infrastructure. The initiative is a central component of the country’s 2025–2030 digital strategy, which emphasizes resilience, local control, and secure digital transformation.

Specialized Agencies and Oversight Bodies

The framework introduces several specialized institutions tasked with cybersecurity oversight and enforcement:

• Information Systems Security Agency (ASSI): Operating under the Ministry of National Defense, ASSI is responsible for implementing national cybersecurity policies, monitoring cyberspace, and defending critical state infrastructure.
• National Council for Information Systems Security: Reporting directly to the President, this high-level body develops national cybersecurity strategies and approves major security policies.
• National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (ANPDP): An independent administrative authority that enforces compliance with Law No. 18-07, audits personal data processing, and investigates privacy violations.
• High Commission for Digitalization (HCD): Oversees the national digitalization strategy, ensuring projects like the National Data Center and National Cloud comply with cybersecurity standards.
• National Authority for the Prevention and Combating of ICT-Related Crimes: Focused on monitoring electronic communications to prevent subversive activity or threats to state security.

Strengthened Legal and Regulatory Mechanisms

Algeria has also introduced rigorous legal measures to enforce cybersecurity compliance:

• Compulsory Security Governance: Presidential Decree No. 20-05 mandates that all state information systems appoint a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to oversee governance and incident response.
• Data Protection Laws: Amendments to Law No. 18-07 align Algerian data protection with international standards such as the GDPR, imposing strict obligations on data handling and transfer.
• Critical Infrastructure Protection: New regulations require electronic communications providers to implement technical safeguards against unauthorized access.
• Sovereign Infrastructure Development: Algeria is prioritizing the creation of a national data governance framework and sovereign network infrastructure to minimize dependence on foreign systems and enhance control over sensitive data.

This strengthened framework reflects a regional trend in which cybersecurity is increasingly recognized as a pillar of national security and economic development. By centralizing authority under the Presidency and the Ministry of National Defense, Algeria aims to adopt a proactive defense posture capable of neutralizing sophisticated cyber threats before they can disrupt the nation’s digital transformation.