The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has launched the development of a comprehensive Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan (DRBCP) to ensure the restoration of critical digital services and the uninterrupted functioning of government operations in the face of potential disruptions.

The initiative forms part of the Digital Maldives for Adaptation, Decentralisation and Diversification (DMAD) project, which is being implemented by the Ministry with grant assistance from the World Bank.

The plan’s development, specifically for the National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT), has been contracted to Sri Lankan firm KBSL Information Technologies Limited, a company with a longstanding presence in the IT sector since 1987.

The agreement was signed by Dr Mohamed Kinaanath, Head of NCIT and State Minister at the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, while Krishan Perera, Associate Vice President of International Business, represented KBSL.

Photo: Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology

Valued at USD 45,525, the contract outlines a four-month timeline for the completion of the plan, which is required to meet international standards. The process will include a thorough risk assessment of NCIT’s 22-year-old infrastructure, covering potential threats such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, power failures and fire incidents. The plan will also identify essential skillsets and training needs for personnel, and will provide the Government with a detailed operational manual to guide disaster response and recovery efforts.

Given the increasingly digital nature of Government services, the NCIT plays a pivotal role in ensuring national IT resilience. The centre manages the National Data Centre (NDC), which hosts a range of Government applications, and operates the National Computer Network (NCN), the backbone infrastructure connecting government systems and databases across various state institutions.