Malawi advances on cyber security initiatives

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) says it is advancing on the implementation of cyber security-related activities outlined in the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act of 2016.

Macra started implementing the National Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert), which will take charge of Malawi’s information infrastructure protection actions and serve as a base for national coordination to respond to information and communication technology security threats.

Macra Cert manager Christopher Banda said in an interview last week that the institution engaged the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to assist in the establishment of Cert using the ITU model.

“The model has mainly three stages which include assessment, design and technical implementation.

“The first two stages were done in March and November 2018, respectively and now we are in the final stage of technical implementation,” he said.

ITU deliberately comes up with programmes to help developing countries to implement national Cert and many countries have benefited from such initiatives.

Macra, in collaboration with stakeholders, developed a five-year National Cyber Security Strategy, which was approved by government early this year.

The strategy has key activities that need to be implemented within the period to achieve the broader security of Malawi cyber space.

Banda said capacity building is key in cyber security issues and a workshop is in the offing for the team to learn more about the issue.