HIT applauds creation of Cyber Security Ministry

We would like to thank His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chancellor of the Harare Institute of Technology, Cde RG Mugabe for creating the new Ministry of Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation.

WE ALSO extend our congratulations to Hon Patrick Chinamasa on his appointment as the inaugural minister. We look forward to his valuable acumen and wish him a successful term.

HIT Pioneers in Cyber Security Valuing Privacy, Always Secure

At HIT, we foresaw this paradigmatic shift in information security, and lead the pack as pioneers of Information Security in the higher education sector. In line with our mandate, we established the School of Information Science & Technology, with a four year BTech degree in Information Security & Assurance in 2011. We have participated in consultative forums focusing on the drafting of the national Cybercrime and Cyber Security Bill; as well as conducting and taking part in local related conferences.

Our aim is to be the leading Institute in cyber security, risk management and IT audit that promotes security awareness, education and training.

Creation of Ministry of Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation

The exponential growth of information systems and their entrance into many aspects of our lives has brought numerous benefits to everyday life. However, these benefits come with risks; with hackers committing cybercrimes, cyberbullying, cyber espionage, cyberwar and abuse of social media for political maleficence. The greatest risk however, is potential damage to Critical National Infrastructure due to hacking attacks.

Critical Infrastructure (or Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is a term used by governments to describe assets that are essential for the functioning of a society and economy. Most commonly associated with the term are facilities for:

◆ Electricity generation, transmission and distribution;

◆ Gas production, transport and distribution;

◆ Oil and oil products production, transport and distribution;

◆ Telecommunication;

◆ Water supply (drinking water, waste water/sewage, stemming of surface water (eg dikes and sluices);

◆ Agriculture, food production and distribution;

◆ Public health (hospitals, ambulances);

◆ Transportation systems (fuel supply, railway network, airports);

◆ Financial services (banking, clearing);

◆ Security services (police, military). These are the core elements of our nation and any hacks on them would prove to be catastrophic. Therefore as HIT we salute, appreciate and fully support the importance of the new ministry.

As the only university in Zimbabwe with a fully-fledged department for Information Security; we look forward to assisting and working together with the Hon. Minister and his Ministry to ensure a connected and secure Zimbabwe.

This article is authored by the Dean in the School of Information Science and Technology, Mr T. Padenga.

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