Cybersecurity in Africa: Top Security Culture Programs in November

The African Security Culture Conference would host global security experts and decision-makers who are entrusted with the task of unpacking the state of cybersecurity culture in Africa.

A continent that has recorded the slowest rate of adoption of internet services, Africa is under a serious threat of losing its battle against cybercrimes. In recent months, we have witnessed a large number of APT groups targeting African governments and enterprises.

Come November 11, 2020 and we would see a series of cybersecurity groups explaining what you can do to improve your current security posture against perennial security threats. 11 November – this date marks the return of the successful and virtual Africa Cyber Security Culture Conference, an event that explores cybersecurity culture in Africa and shares best practices for organizations and individuals on the continent. Hosted by cybersecurity awareness training organization KnowBe4 Africa in collaboration with Cyber Security Africa, the half-day online event will feature speakers, leaders, analysts and decision-makers sharing vital skills and knowledge around security, culture and the future.

The inaugural event, hosted in June 2020, saw more than 1,300 people from all over the world, register to attend. They engaged with industry experts from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Norway, the USA and South Africa, and the event paid attention to key trends and topics relevant to cybersecurity on the African continent. The November conference is set to take the insights, engagement and expertise to the next level.

Cybersecurity in Africa: Top Security Culture Programmes — What Has Worked and What Hasn’t?

The event includes presentations across the following topics:

• Security Culture Programmes — What has Worked and What Hasn’t?
• Overcoming mobile security challenges in Africa
• Carrot or the Stick? Driving Behaviour Change Through Incentives
• Aligning Cybersecurity to your Organisation’s Greater Culture/Wellness Programme
• Gender, Culture and ICT Use for Rural Development
• Managing Security Cultures After COVID-19. How Do We Adapt?

The Africa Cyber Security Culture Conference 2020 will play host to more than 15 distinguished panelists and speakers and will provide attendees with practical and proactive takeaways that they can implement in their organizations.

The speaker line-up for the November 11 event includes sterling talent and industry expertise. Attendees can expect to hear from:

• Jenny Radcliffe, Founder and Director of Human Factor Security;
• Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola (AhA) Chair of the African Union’s Cyber Security Expert Group;
• Yolanda Cornelius, Security Governance Officer at Discovery Limited;
• Christine Bennett, Manager: Cyber Security Awareness, CISO Office, Nedbank Ltd;
• Olasunkanmi James, Head of IT Security, Airtel Nigeria;
• Javvad Malik, Security Awareness Advocate at KnowBe4; and
• Sanjana Rathi, Lead: Stakeholder Engagement and Technology Policy at Technology Against Crime Africa.

The conference is focused on helping organizations embed security into their cultures, helping them to thrive in increasingly complex and uncertain times. This is a necessity highlighted by the 2020 Global Security Culture Report by KnowBe4 and CTLRe that emphasized the importance of compliance and security behavior in ensuring that organizations remain vigilant and secure.

“The question that the report raises is simple – how can the organization embed secure employee behavior to minimize the risk and maximize protection?” asks Collard. “The answer is that security has to be management’s responsibility and needs to remain an ongoing priority. A few emails and posters about password hygiene aren’t going to cut it when a phishing email or ransomware breaks loose. And this can happen with just one accidental click of a mouse.”

The virtual Africa Cyber Security Culture Conference will tackle these issues and other highly relevant topics over the course of the morning. Speakers will cover social engineering, mobile security, security culture programs, and incentivized behavioral changes, among others. Held on 11 November 2020 at 9 a.m. GMT+2, attendees are invited to discuss key trends, to explore the development of a robust African security posture, and to walk away with practical tips and advice that can be implemented in their own organizations.

SOURCE – KnowBe4