GISEC: Cybersecurity At The Heart Of Africa’s Digital Transformation

As the African continent continues to experience rapid technological growth and increasing internet penetration, the challenges of cybersecurity threats are the current realities the continent is currently dealing with and therefore there is the need for collaborative efforts to tackle the threats.

This was the focus of discussion at GISEC Global, a leading gathering ground for the cybersecurity community, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, aimed at building the capacity of the continent to combat the challenge, a statement issued by the spokesperson of NITDA, Hadiza Umar said.

Speaking on ‘Strategies for Boosting Africa’s Cyber Resilience’ Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, called on governments to be resilient in minimising the impact of cyberattacks on African Nations’ operations of critical infrastructure, national security, reputation, and economy.

The NITDA Boss said that to protect citizens and assets and genuinely harness the benefits of increasingly complicated digital reality, Africa cannot afford to be apathetic towards cybersecurity, adding that with the right strategies and approaches, Africa can enhance its cybersecurity posture and build resilience against cyberattacks.

“African nations must work collaboratively to build and implement robust, inclusive, and proactive cyber resilience methodologies and comprehensive approaches to the identification and mitigation of critical vulnerabilities. This includes encouraging the exchange of collective knowledge and intelligence on cyber threats and promoting international cooperation in responding to cybercrime,” he said.

Inuwa further cited Check Point Research Report of 2022 that says African countries experienced an average of 1,848 cyberattacks per week, per organisation in 2022, compared to 1,164 globally.

Nigeria, the most populous African country, accounted for the largest number of users, with over 100 million internet users, followed by Egypt with 76 million and South Africa with 41 million. However, these countries, along with Kenya, also account for 60% of the $4 billion annual cost of cybercrime in Africa.

According to Inuwa, “despite these challenges, Africa’s digital transformation projects are gaining momentum, with online shoppers reaching almost 390 million and social media users reaching over 380 million in 2022.

“This growing accessibility is due to increasing mobile device adoption and improved telecommunication systems. However, the increasing threat of cyberattacks puts our socio-economic security at risk locally and internationally.”

Inuwa added that it is imperative that all governments prioritise cybersecurity and take the necessary measures to strengthen their digital defenses to protect citizens from the threats posed by online attacks.

Citing the Africa Center for Strategic Studies Report, Inuwa said “Only 15 African countries have completed national cybersecurity strategies, which lay out strategic objectives and assign government-wide responsibilities for cyber threat monitoring and response.”

To boost Africa’s cyber resilience, Inuwa said countries must adopt several key strategies including; understanding the current cybersecurity landscape in Africa; create and implement comprehensive and multi-stakeholder policies and legal frameworks to ensure accountability and incentivise investments in cybersecurity measures; and close the cybersecurity talent gap by investing in training and development programmes to equip our workforce with the necessary skills and knowledge to protect themselves and our organisations against cyber threats.

“We need to invest in the development of robust cybersecurity technologies such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint protection. These tools can help detect and prevent cyberattacks before they cause significant harm.

“Both the government and private sector must play a role in providing institutional support for cybersecurity, including the creation of dedicated cybersecurity agencies and units, as well as public-private partnerships that allow for the sharing of resources and expertise.

“We must prioritise regional partnerships and cross-border cooperation to combat cyber threats, as they do not respect geographical boundaries. This can include African countries working together to formulate and implement effective responses to cyberattacks and share best practices.

“Finally, national cyber-response plans and specialised Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) for critical infrastructure sectors are essential in ensuring cyber resilience. These plans should outline the procedures and protocols,” he said.

Recall that NITDA and other sister agencies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Galaxy Backbone (GBB) limited under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy reportedly played majors roles to ensure a safe and secure cyberspace for Nigerians before, during and after the 2023 Presidential election by averting nearly 13 million cyber  attacks on the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).