In a significant step towards strengthening national cybersecurity, government has allocated N$20 million in seed funding for the Namibia Cyber-Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT). This investment facilitated the operational launch of NAM-CSIRT, and reinforced government’s dedication to bolstering national resilience against cyber threats.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) last week successfully hosted the inaugural NAM-CSIRT stakeholders engagement in Windhoek. This milestone event, which took place on 27 March, highlighted Cran’s commitment to enhancing Namibia’s digital security landscape and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders within the nation’s cybersecurity framework.
Cran chief executive officer Emilia Nghikembua, highlighted the establishment of NAM-CSIRT as a pivotal initiative directed by the information and communication technology ministry. She emphasised this initiative is a crucial step in bolstering Namibia’s cybersecurity resilience.
“In an era where cyber threats are rapidly evolving, it is imperative that we engage in a coordinated effort to protect our critical infrastructure and, by extension, safeguard the livelihoods of our citizens,” Nghikembua stated.
Effective cybersecurity relies on collaboration, with trust among stakeholders playing a pivotal role. Strong partnerships foster information-sharing, encourage prompt incident reporting and support collective risk mitigation. Nghikembua emphasised that this synergy between trust and cooperation will not only enhance Namibia’s cybersecurity framework, but also contribute to a safer global digital landscape.
Moreover, the engagement provided a platform to strengthen collaboration, allowing stakeholders to exchange insights, best-practices and lessons learned in cybersecurity. In this regard, she encouraged stakeholders to establish sector-specific Cyber Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) within their industries.
“Adopting this best-practice will streamline the exchange of critical information among related entities, and significantly elevate Namibia’s cybersecurity maturity. By organising into sectoral CIRTs, we can develop targeted strategies to address sector-specific challenges, ultimately strengthening our collective ability to manage and mitigate cyber incidents,” she noted.