Israel’s National Cyber Directorate is responsible for cyber defense in the civilian sphere. Its work includes policy, building technological capabilities, operational defense, guidance for civilian organizations and critical infrastructure, and incident handling. The public can report cyber incidents to the national response center through hotline 119 and receive initial assistance.
A civilian defense mandate
The Directorate’s official description gives it responsibility for civilian cyber defense, from policy development to operational activity. This places it in a coordinating and support role across the civilian economy; it is not a single software product protecting every organization automatically. Ministries, companies, infrastructure operators, and individuals still have their own security responsibilities.
The Directorate also works to improve resilience through guidance and cooperation with civilian entities. Israel’s 2025 National Cybersecurity Strategy describes efforts to secure government information systems, set cybersecurity requirements in procurement, and improve continuity of digital services. It also identifies cooperation between public and private sectors as necessary because internet infrastructure is distributed across organizations.
What CERT 119 provides
The national Computer Emergency Response Center receives reports about cyberattacks, suspected attempts, vulnerabilities, and security breaches. The center operates around the clock, coordinates and investigates incidents, and offers initial assistance and recommendations. The Directorate’s CERT information page says any citizen can call 119 to report an incident and receive initial help.
This is a practical public contact point, not a promise that every report receives immediate full remediation. Organizations can use the channel to report suspected incidents and seek initial guidance; complex incidents may require additional technical work by the affected organization and relevant specialists. The English-language Directorate page lists CERT 119 as its cyber incident handling contact.
How the role fits the wider system
The Directorate’s job is civilian cyber defense. Defense agencies manage their own classified systems, while organizations in the economy operate the networks and services they rely on. National coordination, public reporting, alerts, guidance, and incident response help connect these efforts.
Readers interested in the private-sector side can explore Israeli cybersecurity firms and industrial infrastructure protection.