Smart Reliance on Domestic Products: The Path to Realizing Cybersecurity in Iran
The head of Iran’s Strategic Management Center of Information Security (AFTA) emphasized the critical role of indigenous products in achieving sustainable cybersecurity. He noted that true cybersecurity is realized only through effective domestic solutions while acknowledging that the cybersecurity market must maintain a balance between approved local and foreign products.
During a meeting with private sector leaders in East Azerbaijan’s cybersecurity industry, Ali-Mohammad Norouzzadeh, head of the AFTA Strategic Management Center, underlined the need for targeted planning to better utilize local capabilities.
“To expand the use of domestic cybersecurity products, we must design a precise roadmap so that both the industry can grow reliably, and organizations understand what portion of their needs should be met through local production,” he stated.
Norouzzadeh described Iran’s cybersecurity industry as facing “major structural challenges,” adding:
“Unless these barriers are removed, the business ecosystem will not thrive — and expecting stable security for critical infrastructures will remain unrealistic.”
He further identified cyber resilience in national critical infrastructure as a top priority for Iran’s cybersecurity agenda, stressing that public and vital services must continue functioning even during cyber incidents and be restored in the shortest possible time.
Encouraging the private sector to collaborate more closely with government agencies, the AFTA chief said companies should actively offer practical ideas and projects to strengthen cybersecurity across public institutions.
“With this model, private firms can also benefit more efficiently from allocated public budgets,” Norouzzadeh added.
According to official data, AFTA licensing operations have seen a 3.5-fold increase this November compared to the same period last year — a result of consolidating and streamlining the approval process within the center.
Norouzzadeh reaffirmed that AFTA aims to issue licenses within 30 working days, noting that performance over the past 47 days demonstrates full compliance with this commitment.