The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) has urged organisations to strengthen their ability to respond to cyberattacks as digital threats become more frequent and sophisticated.
NAM-CSIRT, which is housed at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), hosted a one-day masterclass on cyber incident handling, response and crisis communication on Tuesday during the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair ICT Summit.
The training formed part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month and brought together systems administrators, information security officers, communications practitioners, and representatives from government institutions and the private sector.
Participants received practical training on preparing for cyber incidents, detecting attacks, coordinating responses, communicating during a crisis, recovering from incidents and maintaining business operations.
The programme also included a tabletop exercise that allowed participants to simulate cyberattacks and test how organisations should respond during a crisis.
The event was attended by the Executive Director in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Linda Aipinge-Nakale, ministry officials and CRAN management.
CRAN chief executive officer and head of NAM-CSIRT Emilia Nghikembua said cybersecurity is no longer only a technical issue but has become an organisational, economic and national security concern.
“The masterclass aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of incident response procedures, coordination mechanisms, stakeholder responsibilities and effective communication before, during and after a cyber incident,” she said.
Nghikembua added that organisations need practical tools to improve their preparedness, resilience and recovery when cyber incidents occur.
Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology Wenzel Kavaka said cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, frequent and disruptive.
He warned that every connected organisation could become a target and encouraged institutions to take a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
Kavaka said effective preparation should involve organisational leaders, legal teams, communications practitioners, risk managers and technical experts.
He added that clear communication is just as important as the technical response during a cyber incident.
Kavaka also reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening Namibia’s cybersecurity capacity through cooperation between regulators, industry, academic institutions, civil society and international partners.
NAM-CSIRT executive Cornelia Shipindo said cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires technical expertise, leadership support and effective communication.
“We cannot predict when a cyber incident will occur, but we can ensure that our organisations are ready to respond swiftly, communicate responsibly and recover effectively,” she said.
Shipindo encouraged participants to share the knowledge gained with colleagues and help build a culture of cyber resilience within their organisations.
She further said, NAM-CSIRT it will continue promoting cybersecurity awareness and helping organisations strengthen their ability to protect their systems, information and services from cyber threats.
-pmukokobi@nepc.com.na
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