Secure Messaging for Governments: ITU Academy & RealTyme Course Now Available in French

August 22, 2025

About the ITU Academy & RealTyme French-Language Course for Secure Messaging for Governments

This upcoming course is designed specifically for Francophone policymakers, IT directors, and government security professionals. Delivered entirely in French, it combines expert lectures, guided workshops, and interactive discussions.

Training title: Secure Government Communications in the AI and Post-Quantum Era ‍

Format: Online, instructor-led training (Live virtual sessions)

Event dates: 01 Oct 2025 - 30 Oct 2025

Organized by: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with RealTyme ‍

📅 Register here to secure your place

Key Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

Identify vulnerabilities in legacy systems and AI-exposed tools

Understand how AI and quantum computing reshape threats

Learn how to assess data sovereignty risks

Develop future-proof strategies using post-quantum cryptography

Apply secure, government-grade communication tools

By the end of the course, participants will have a roadmap tailored to their institutional context, ensuring they can move from abstract principles to concrete action.

A Strategic Journey: From Risks to Resilience

The course is not just a set of technical lessons but a guided journey. It begins with a clear-eyed look at the hidden vulnerabilities within legacy systems and the dangers of everyday consumer tools still too often used in public institutions.

This stage confronts the risks head-on, making visible the cracks that can destabilize even the most advanced governments.

From there, the focus deepens into sovereignty: who controls the servers, where the infrastructure resides, and whether governments truly own their communication lifelines.

Participants learn that encryption alone is not enough. Without sovereignty, security can be an illusion. Real-world examples illustrate how nations that have embraced sovereign control are better positioned to act with independence in moments of crisis.

The final stage looks forward, preparing participants for tomorrow’s threats. With the rapid rise of AI and quantum computing, the systems of today may not stand the test of tomorrow. The training equips participants with strategies for post-quantum resilience, ensuring that communications can adapt rather than collapse under future pressures.

Together, these stages form a progression: recognize the risks of the past and present, reclaim sovereignty in the now, and build resilience for what is coming.

It is a roadmap designed not only to inform, but to prepare governments for decisive action.

Who Should Attend

IT and cybersecurity directors

Intelligence and national security officials

Digital governance policymakers

Compliance and data protection leaders

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The Importance of Secure Messaging for Governments

In the quiet halls of government ministries, messages carry weight that few outside can imagine. A single leak, a misrouted file, or a compromised line of communication can ripple outward, shaking public trust, jeopardizing operations, and even endangering lives.

This is why secure messaging for governments is the backbone of national security.

In recent years, stories of sensitive government communications being intercepted or exposed have made headlines around the world. From the 2015 U.S. OPM data breach to revelations that European officials were using unsecured consumer apps, the risks are now impossible to ignore.

In 2021, reports that Pegasus spyware targeted ministers and journalists underscored how fragile digital communications can be.

These incidents illustrate a simple truth: governments cannot rely on generic messaging platforms designed for everyday convenience.

Recognizing this urgent need, RealTyme and ITU Academy have developed a specialized training program that brings together technical expertise, operational insight, and practical guidance.

This program, now available in French, focuses on equipping government leaders with the knowledge and tools to implement secure messaging for governments — systems that keep information confidential, communications resilient, and sovereignty intact.

Why Governments Cannot Compromise on Messaging

Think of a national disaster: a hurricane sweeps through a major city. Emergency responders coordinate relief efforts, ministers exchange real-time updates, and law enforcement communicates instructions to keep citizens safe.

Every message carries critical instructions. If these messages are insecure or intercepted, the results could be catastrophic.

The stakes extend beyond emergencies. Diplomats, intelligence agencies, and local authorities rely on secure messaging every day to make decisions that shape the nation’s future.

Yet, many government offices still use tools that were never designed to protect highly sensitive information. Secure messaging for governments is about closing that gap, ensuring that the people entrusted with public responsibility can communicate safely, confidently, and without interference.

Every breach tells the same story: when governments use inadequate tools, they inherit risks that can no longer be ignored. A leaked diplomatic cable can strain international relations; an intercepted security message can put lives at risk.

What Makes Messaging Truly Secure for Governments

The phrase “secure messaging” is often used casually, but for governments it must be defined with precision.

In the upcoming French-language training by ITU Academy and RealTyme, participants explore the principles that separate basic security from true sovereignty:

1. Control Over Infrastructure

For a government, it is not enough that messages are encrypted. Where data is stored and who controls the servers matters just as much. Hosting messaging systems on national infrastructure ensures that sensitive exchanges remain under domestic jurisdiction.

2. Protection Beyond Content

Even when messages are encrypted, metadata can expose patterns: who talks to whom, when, and how often. In politics and security, that information can be as revealing as the content itself. Systems built with “zero-knowledge” principles eliminate this weakness by keeping metadata hidden.

3. Readiness for the Future

Today’s encryption may not withstand tomorrow’s computing power. Quantum technologies are advancing rapidly, and governments cannot afford to wait until it is too late. The course addresses post-quantum security so participants understand how to prepare for the next generation of threats.

4. Compliance by Design

Governments are subject to strict data protection laws, from the EU’s GDPR to regional frameworks like NIS2. Secure messaging for governments must align with these regulations while still enabling operational efficiency.

5. Resilience Under Pressure

Natural disasters, cyber incidents, or geopolitical tensions often put communication systems under extreme strain. Secure platforms for governments must continue functioning when they are needed most.

To bring these points to life, the training uses real-world case studies from different regions. Real-world case studies bring these points to life: African governments adopting local data hosting, European ministries implementing GDPR-compliant messaging, and smaller island nations preparing resilience plans against climate-related disasters.

Lessons From the Past, Guidance for the Future

The idea of secure communication is not new. During the Second World War, Allied leaders relied on encrypted radio transmissions and machines like the Enigma to keep their strategies hidden from the enemy. Those efforts shaped the outcome of battles and, ultimately, the war itself.

The lesson remains the same today: when communications are compromised, security falters. But unlike the past, the battleground has shifted from code-breaking machines to digital platforms used by billions.

In this context, secure messaging for governments is the modern continuation of a timeless truth — that sovereignty depends on secrecy when it matters most.

By attending this course, participants will explore how historical lessons translate into the digital age, drawing parallels between past challenges and the demands of today’s interconnected world.

The Human Side of Digital Trust

Technology can only go so far without people who understand and trust it. A government can deploy the most advanced messaging system, but if officials use insecure apps out of habit, the system fails.

Building a culture of digital trust is just as important as deploying new infrastructure.

The training addresses this challenge head-on. Through workshops and case studies, participants learn how to foster awareness within their institutions, ensuring that every official, from a cabinet minister to a municipal employee, understands why secure messaging matters and how to use it responsibly. This cultural shift turns technology into policy, embedding security into the fabric of governance.

The French-language edition of the course also makes this learning accessible to a broader audience. For Francophone governments, this is more than a translation.

Across Africa, Europe, and the wider Francophonie, French remains the language of diplomacy and governance. Delivering the course in French allows policymakers to discuss complex technical issues in their own words, without loss of nuance. It fosters collaboration between ministers in Dakar, Paris, Ouagadougou, and beyond, strengthening a shared community of practice across borders.

By delivering this program, ITU Academy and RealTyme ensure that participants can engage deeply with complex topics, debate solutions in their native language, and connect with peers across regions. This builds a network of professionals who can share experiences and strengthen one another in their pursuit of secure messaging for governments.

Connecting Secure Messaging With Sovereignty

When a government relies on foreign-owned platforms, it cedes control over critical information flows. This dependency undermines sovereignty at its core.

By contrast, secure messaging for governments anchored in sovereign infrastructure ensures that sensitive communications remain under national authority.

Sovereignty gives governments the freedom to act independently, free from the risk of external interference.

History shows that dependence on external platforms can have hidden costs. Several governments in recent years have faced diplomatic fallout when their internal communications, routed through foreign-owned servers, were exposed by cyberattacks or international investigations.

For emerging economies, building sovereign infrastructure can mean the difference between being policy takers and policy shapers. For advanced economies, it ensures that global influence is not undermined by vulnerabilities at home. Sovereignty in communication is therefore both a shield and a lever of independence.

For smaller nations and emerging democracies, it provides assurance that their decision-making processes cannot be compromised by reliance on foreign platforms. For larger powers, it reinforces their ability to operate globally without exposing vulnerabilities at home.

The training emphasizes this connection between sovereignty and secure messaging, showing participants how to build solutions that align with national policies while remaining interoperable with international standards.

Secure Messaging Meets Sustainability

One of the less discussed but equally important aspects of sovereign communication is sustainability. Global data centers operated by commercial providers consume massive amounts of energy.

By contrast, locally hosted government platforms can be designed to optimize efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.

This alignment between secure messaging for governments and sustainable policy offers a dual benefit: protecting national sovereignty while contributing to environmental goals. For governments balancing multiple priorities, this connection is increasingly valuable.

Preparing for What Comes Next

The future of government communication will not get simpler. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and next-generation networks will introduce new opportunities and new risks. Governments that fail to adapt will find themselves perpetually reacting to crises rather than shaping outcomes.

The ITU Academy & RealTyme training for secure messaging for governments is designed to help governments stay ahead of these changes. It does not just teach the tools of today but equips participants to anticipate and prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.

Participants leave the course not only with technical insights but with actionable strategies to take back to their ministries, agencies, and local governments. By combining theory with practical exercises, the program ensures attendees can immediately apply what they learn.

Conclusion

The integrity of government decision-making depends on the security of its communications. From crisis coordination to diplomatic negotiations, the messages exchanged behind the scenes shape the future of nations.

In this context, secure messaging for governments is the foundation upon which sovereignty, resilience, and trust are built.

The upcoming training with ITU Academy and RealTyme offers a rare opportunity for policymakers, IT leaders, and security professionals to learn from experts, exchange experiences, and build a roadmap for secure, sovereign communication.

Governments cannot afford to leave their most critical messages exposed. The time to act is now.

👉 Register today for the ITU Academy & RealTyme training on secure messaging for governments, and take the first step toward protecting the conversations that protect the nation.

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About the Organizers

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

For more than 150 years, the International Telecommunication Union has been at the center of global connectivity. Founded in 1865, ITU is the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), and today it counts 194 Member States and over 1,000 private-sector and academic members among its community.

Its mission goes far beyond technical standards. ITU manages the shared use of the radio spectrum, allocates satellite orbits, and works to extend communication networks into parts of the world where they are needed most. From coordinating international cooperation on 5G to ensuring that developing nations can build resilient ICT infrastructure, ITU has consistently shaped the backbone of modern communication.

The ITU Academy serves as its learning and capacity-building hub, making knowledge on digital development, cybersecurity, and communication technologies accessible to governments and institutions worldwide. By offering specialized courses like this one, ITU ensures that digital transformation is not only global but also inclusive, preparing leaders to face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

RealTyme

RealTyme is a Swiss-based company focused on one mission: to give organizations the tools to communicate securely and independently. At a time when consumer messaging apps dominate the market, RealTyme stands apart by building technology that prioritizes sovereignty, privacy, and resilience.

Its secure communication platform is trusted by governments, defense institutions, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprises where the stakes of a data breach are simply too high. Designed with end-to-end protection, RealTyme ensures that sensitive exchanges remain under the full control of the organization, free from external surveillance or dependency.

By partnering with ITU Academy, RealTyme brings its expertise in secure collaboration to a global audience, ensuring that governments and public institutions have not just theoretical knowledge, but access to practical, tested solutions for secure messaging.

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