Addis Ababa: Addressing the challenges of cyber security requires a holistic approach involving collaboration among governments, private sector, and international organizations, Information Network Security Administration (INSA) Director-General Tigist Hamid said. A two-day cyber security and digital transformation conference organized by INSA and Ethiopian Cyber Security Association kicked off today. In her opening remark, Director-General of INSA, Tigist Hamid said that technology underpins every aspect of the society, from financial transactions to vital infrastructure and this reliance puts everyone at risk for never-before-seen dangers. 'The rise of AI and the increase of cyber-attacks are known risks within the international community; yet, it does come as a surprise that both of these topics fall within the top five risks for 2024,' she emphasized. Citing the World Economic Forum, 2024 Report, Tigist pointed out that cyber security came in number four in the short-term and eighth in the long-term r elating to global risks ranked by severity, and she added 'while we should be happy about technological advancements, we also need to be cautious about the risks associated with improper technological understanding.' 'In 2024, the cyber security landscape continues to present significant, evolving challenges. We should reassess our security strategies while becoming more nimble, adaptive, and proactive to stay ahead of the curve. The adversaries we face are not confined by borders; they navigate the virtual realm with stealth and sophistication. We must fortify our defenses, collaborate across sectors and borders, and remain vigilant in the face of this persistent danger,' she stressed. Furthermore, the Director-General pointed out the need for holistic approach that involves the collaboration among governments, private sector, and international organizations to address the challenges of cyber insecurity. By the end of 2024, the cost of cyber-attacks on the global economy would top 10.5 trillion USD, she s tated, and added that cyber security has evidently become a very critical concern that needs the attention of researchers, academicians, and organizations to confidentially ensure the protection and security. 'The quantity, the complexity, the severity of cyber-attacks have also escalated at national level. In Ethiopia, 4,623 cyber-attack attempts were recorded during the first-half of the 2016 fiscal year. In the same period, the percentage of high risk cyber-attacks has more than doubled to 115 percent as compared to the first-six months of 2015 fiscal year report,' Tigist elaborated. According to the Director-General, majority of the institutions targeted by cyber attackers included banks and financial institutions, security and intelligence agencies, media outlets, critical government agencies, federal and regional offices as well as institutions of higher learning. Source: Ethiopian News Agency Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has urged Northern Kenya security forces to be friendly to local communities for support and information, potentially leading to the enemy defeat. Speaking in Garissa during the commissioning of the newly created Shanta Abaq sub county, Prof. Kindiki said that there is need to make the public part of the security operations by making sure that people are not hurt or injured unjustly. However, the CS thanked the security agencies for their continued dedication to their duty and ensuring that the country is safe at all costs, sometimes even at the expense of their own lives. 'Our special forces are doing a very good job because dealing with this enemy is not a small job. We have even lost some of them in the line of duty and others have been seriously injured, but their spirits against the militants are still unmoved,' he said. The CS urged officers leading the war against terrorism to maintain friendly relations with the public to gather information that could aid in stopping the enemy and promoting peace. Furthermore, Kindiki urged officers leading the war against terrorism to maintain friendly relations with the public to gather information that could aid in stopping the enemy and promoting peace. The CS further reiterated that there is a need to change the way the public perceives security operations so that there can be a united front against al shabaab and banditry in the country. Hence, the main agenda which he outlined, is to establish a direct relationship between security forces and Northern Kenya residents, enabling information sharing and intelligence sharing in the ongoing war against terror. To add on, he appealed to regional political leaders to support and understand how a safer country can achieve success through businesses, agriculture and other activities. Recently, the CS revealed that the government had rolled out a Sh7 billion state-of-the-art security equipment to bolster safety measures in regions prone to t errorism and banditry. The deployment is slated for areas prone to terrorism and banditry, with a focus on bolstering safety measures in regions like North Eastern, Upper Eastern and Upper Coastal areas. Meanwhile, CS Kindiki has announced the recruitment and training of National Police Reservists (NPRs) starting next month, intended to complement the efforts of multi-agency security personnel in combating terrorism financiers and orchestrators. At the same time, in a bid to tackle evolving security threats comprehensively, the government has unveiled a robust 5-year security equipment modernization plan, with an estimated cost of Sh37 billion. Source: Kenya News Agency
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