As technology adoption evolves both at the private and public sector so also the rate of against cyber-attack vulnerability. But, the Nigeria communications Commission (NCC) said prompt and proactive effort still needed to be harnessed to secure national infrastructure both at the federal and state level.
Hence, the commission said plans are underway to establish a Cyber Security Incidence Response Team (CSIRT).
This, the commission said will complement the effort of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)’s Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team coordination center, ngCERT, which serves as the single national point of contact for international coordination of cybersecurity incidents in Nigeria.
The Executive Vice Chairman; NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, made this known during a paper presentation titled; ‘Building Resilience in Critical Cybersecurity Infrastructure,’ delivered at 2016 Cybersecurity Awareness Month organized by the United States Embassy in Lagos lastweek.
Represented by Mr. Tony Ojobo, Director, Public Affairs at the NCC, Danbatta explained that the current scale and growth of ICT applications transcends all spheres of social and economic boundaries worldwide pointing that be it broadcasting (digital TV) or social networking, e-Commerce (mobile banking and financial services), e-Governance (government services management, e- education, e-health, e-taxation, etc), governments, institutions and the society in general every sector is exposed to vulnerabilities of cyber-attacks.
It is in this line that the Commission is establishing a Cyber Security Incidence Response Team (CSIRT) exclusively for the telecommunications sector.
He said, “The sectorial CSIRT will complement the ngCERT by handling and coordinating cybersecurity incidences in the telecommunications sector. When the (CSIRT) is established, it will facilitate intervention, swift identification of threats/vulnerabilities and sharing of valuable information and resources to assist in fortifying the resilience of the national cybersecurity infrastructure.
With the CSIRT in place, there will be cognizance on pervasive use of, and reliance on, mobile and cloud technologies, including current advances in mobile “smart phones” capabilities and corresponding vulnerabilities, to develop and nurture home grown Cyber Security Solutions that will protect critical national information infrastructural support the fight against Cybercrimes and terrorism and foster confidence in the nations’ economic / financial systems.
“The Commission is also partnering with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to establish (here in Nigeria) a Regional Cybersecurity Center (RCC) for Africa. The center, which will be sited in Abuja, will provide support in the area of technical manpower training, information sharing and other collaborative roles with local CERTs in the African region.
“The fight against cybercrimes is currently beyond socio-political and economic exigencies, hence there is greater need to form strategic partnerships and collaborative alliances with stakeholder Agencies, Organizations, and Jurisdictions with the objective of forming a common front to combat and contain the menace of Cybercrimes in all its ramifications and manifestations in our society.
“The dynamic nature of cyber-terrorism threats demand that our capabilities be continually refined and adapted to provide the most effective response. Education and general public awareness is a key part of this requirement,” he added.
