Debswana, BOCRA partner to fight cyber threats
Debswana Diamond Company and the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on cybersecurity collaboration in a bid to fortify their defences against cyber threats.
The signing ceremony held at the Debswana Auditorium on Tuesday this week, marked a significant milestone in the joint efforts of the two organisations to safeguard critical infrastructure and data from malicious cyber activities. Andrew Maatla Motsomi, Managing Director of Debswana, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the increasing risks posed by cyber threats in today’s technology-driven landscape. Debswana and BOCRA have diligently collaborated to establish a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ensuring a secure cyber environment “within our organisation,” Motsomi said, emphasising the importance of proactive measures to mitigate potential cyber risks. The memorandum outlines key areas of collaboration, including cybersecurity training and capacity building, monitoring of Debswana’s attack surface, incident response support, and access to a network of experts for collaboration at local, regional, and international levels. Motsomi underscored the significance of expert knowledge sharing, particularly in combating cybercrime, citing it as a pivotal aspect of the partnership. Of particular note is the commitment to adhere to the Data Protection Act, ensuring the integrity and privacy of data shared between the two. Martin Mokgware, the CEO of BOCRA, commenced the ceremony with expressions of profound honour in joining hands with Debswana, a titan not only in Botswana, but also on the global stage. He explained that BOCRA is relatively young having been incepted in 2013 after its predecessor, Botswana Telecommunications Authority, was dissolved. Mokgware said BOCRA’s mandate is to regulate the communications sector comprehensively, encompassing telecommunications, internet and information technologies, broadcasting, postal services, and beyond. He underscored the significance of the MoU, emphasising its pivotal role in fostering collaboration and resource exchange between BOCRA and Debswana across various realms, particularly cybersecurity. He outlined key areas of focus, including cybersecurity training, attack surface monitoring, incident response support, and networking with experts. The MoU underscores mutual support in research, analysis, human resource development, and the dissemination of knowledge through publications. Mokgware highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder approach for effective cybersecurity management and hailed BOCRA’s Computer Security Incident Response Team (C-SIRT), as a cornerstone in the nation’s cybersecurity apparatus.