Maria David
DEPUTY Minister of Information, Communication, and Technology, Modestus Amutse, said that being connected to the internet exposes individuals to various threats, requiring vigilance, rapid responses, and preventative measures.
Amutse made these remarks during the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum, specifically the “Building Safeguards for Cybersecurity” Sub-Forum in China.
According to Amuste, cybercrimes know no borders, as everyone is at risk of attacks from anywhere in the world, and the alarming rates should be a global concern. These crimes disrupt business operations and cause reputational damage, making preparedness and proactive responsiveness imperative.
“Responsive structures such as the Cybersecurity Incidence Response Teams should be in place to serve as focal points for cybersecurity matters. Our nations can use these structures to share best practices, alerts, and better tackle cyber incidents. This should serve as a reminder of the importance of our national critical information infrastructure, which should rethink investment in cybersecurity infrastructure,” he said.
He added that the fight against cybercrimes requires collaborative efforts at national, regional, and international levels. Thus, it is important to work together and cement their commitment towards building cyber-resilient nations.
He stressed the need for responsive and harmonized laws to prosecute perpetrators.
Amutse expressed pleasure in noting that the United Nations is striving to put in place a Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes as an international legal instrument on cybercrime.
As UN Member States, Amutse indicated that they should strive to finalize this Convention and transpose it into their domestic legislation, maximizing the collaboration it proposes to better serve the best interests of their nations.
Moreover, Amuste emphasized the importance of investing in capacitating the workforce in the ecosystem to navigate through the ever-evolving threats in cyberspace. Therefore, the congregation here should remind them to invest in their personnel at all levels to proactively respond to emerging trends.
Further, he said that research and development in this evolving ICT space are equally critical and play a significant role in unlocking many potentials in addressing cybersecurity issues.
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