Safaricom hosts close to 400 industry leaders for cybersecurity summit

Event is part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month

In Summary

•The event  gathered cybersecurity industry leaders and professionals physically and virtually to discuss the latest cyber security trends and evolving enterprise networks.

•Communications Authority statistics show that between July to September 2023, Kenya experienced more than 123million cyber threat events.

Principal Secretary State Department of Co-operatives Patrick Kilemi consults with Chief Corporate Security Officer Nicholas Mulila at Safaricom PLC during the Cyber Security Summit held at Movenpick Hotel on October 23, 2023.
Principal Secretary State Department of Co-operatives Patrick Kilemi consults with Chief Corporate Security Officer Nicholas Mulila at Safaricom PLC during the Cyber Security Summit held at Movenpick Hotel on October 23, 2023.
Image: SAFARICOM

Safaricom has urged businesses, governments and individuals to invest in technologies that protect sensitive information and critical systems from cyber threats.

The call was made as the telco hosted an event themed ' Becoming a Cyber Resilient Organisation,' on Monday.

The event brought together close to 400 cybersecurity industry leaders and professionals physically and virtually to discuss the latest cybersecurity trends and evolving enterprise networks.

“Cybercrime is becoming increasingly professionalised, leading to a proliferation of numerous subtle and sophisticated threats," Safaricom Chief Corporate Security Officer Nicholas Mulila said.

"Attackers are constantly working on designing, building, and evolving solutions to bypass or overcome the most advanced cyber security solutions.

“This has created a landscape in which companies face more significant cyber threats than ever before.  As cyber threat actors refine their techniques, attacks will become even more common, and companies will face novel and more dangerous cyber threats."

Communications Authority of Kenya statistics show that between July to September 2023, Kenya experienced more than Sh123 million cyber threat events.

“At Safaricom, we continue to provide a variety of solutions that connect, protect, enable, and transform business, ensuring business continuity even in the face of cyber-attacks,” Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Cynthia Kropac said.

“We offer security advisory, network security, online/data/web security, cyber security operations and physical security that includes a video surveillance system. We also have an enhanced cloud solution that is augmented with cyber security, and reliable connectivity and payment services."

Last year, the government introduced a National Cybersecurity Strategy (2022-27) that outlines an implementation framework and timeline to address gaps in the changing cyberspace.

This event is part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

“Cybercrimes are increasing due to the advances in technology. Cyber security is key to everything we do. We have developed an integrated cooperative management system to transform our systems from analogue to digital to improve our efficiency in service delivery and we are committed to safeguard this platform from cyber threats,” State Department for Cooperatives Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi said.

Other dignitaries present at the forum were Jackson Makewa, Director of Cybersecurity, Department for Information Communications and Colonel James Kimuyu, Director General, of National Computer and Cybercrimes.

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