National Cyber Security Strategy approved

Cyber security education and awareness are critical in today’s world of technology in order to keep businesses and individuals safe.

Director of Policy Development at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Cecil Masiga said this week at the Cyber Smart BW challenge prize awarding ceremony.

He said the one month- long Cyber smart BW campaign, dubbed e- Botho, came at a time when most people use the internet and government has also been on a drive to widen digital access in homes and schools throughout the country.

Internet penetration in the country has grown by over 600 percent between 2010 and 2020. “Already, 47 percent of our people are online, and in addition to internet connections, schools receive tablets for use by students in their studies, while Wi- Fi hotspots have also been launched across the country,” he said.

As a result where business and trade and people go, opportunists follow hence developing a cyber- security culture is equally important as establishing the digital infrastructure itself. Head of European Delegation to Botswana and SADC, Jan

Sadek noted that digital technologies now underpin the complex systems which keep economies running.

These include finance, health, energy and transport. “Few are the businesses now that do not in some way rely on the internet and the smooth functioning of information systems to operate more efficiently and grow their markets,” he said.

He said for new connected technologies such as e- payments, cloud computing and social media use – to take off, people need trust and confidence, and therefore internet should be protected from incidents, malicious activities and misuse.

“We are working hard to support the establishment of a secure digital infrastructure both within the European Union and our partners worldwide, including Botswana,” he said.

He applauded Botswana for having recently approved the National Cyber Security Strategy. “This identifies important measures to be put in place and capacities to be developed to keep us all safe,” he said. Coordinator of e- Botho campaign David Moepeng reiterated the importance of ensuring that internet online is secure, and being aware of harmful effects of cyber space.

The winners walked away with certificates, tabs and cash prizes.