Cyber security remains the main focus of SADC

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Capacity Building Workshop focusing on cyber security and the SADC Regional Cyber Security Drill opened earlier this week at the Cyber Tower 1 in Ebène in the presence of the Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Yogida Sawmynaden. 

Some 50 delegates from 12 countries are attending the four-day event, which is a joint collaboration of the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation, the Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius and the SADC. The main objectives are to build capacity and create awareness on cyber security, conduct the first SADC Regional Cyber Drill and develop the framework to establish the SADC Regional Computer Incident Response team. The event will also focus on the authentication schemes the member countries have deployed using Public Key Infrastructure Technology.

In his address, Minister Sawmynaden pointed out that statistics regarding cyber threats are alarming, as each minute a cyber-attack is being performed somewhere in the world. According to him, it is essential for all countries to work together and share knowledge and expertise to handle cyber threats.

The workshop and the Drill are key events that will help participants better understand the issue and enhance their country’s preparedness to be in a better position to detect vulnerabilities present in their national infrastructure and improve security practices, he said.