Africa’s top cybersecurity minds gathered at the recent Africa CISO Summit in Nairobi painted a sobering picture, with insiders emerging as the biggest cybersecurity threat facing businesses on the continent.
Richard Muthua, Executive Head of Cloud and Security at Liquid Telecom, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the evolving threat landscape. “While we remain vigilant against external threats,” Muthua said, “insider threats are the most lethal threats to any business and what most CISOs are constantly thinking about.”
The summit, designed to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), underscored the critical role cybersecurity plays in Africa’s ongoing digital transformation. As more businesses move online, the potential attack surface expands, making robust cybersecurity strategies a non-negotiable.
“Cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought,” stressed a summit attendee who spoke to the Sunday Times on condition of anonymity. “It needs to be embedded within the core business strategy. This means prioritizing identification, visibility, and proactive monitoring of all our cyber assets.”
The summit addressed a range of pressing issues, with experts emphasizing the need for a multi-pronged approach to cybersecurity. Delegates stressed the importance of:
- Shifting mindsets: Moving beyond a reactive posture and embracing proactive defense strategies.
- Zero Trust: Implementing frameworks that assume no user or device is inherently trustworthy.
- Continuous vigilance: Regularly testing defenses and fostering collaboration to share threat intelligence across organizations.
The Africa CISO Summit served as a crucial platform for Africa’s cybersecurity leaders to exchange ideas and develop strategies to combat the evolving threat landscape. By prioritizing insider threat mitigation, embracing a proactive approach, and fostering collaboration, African businesses can navigate the digital age with greater confidence.
