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Addressing Cyber Security Challenges in Zambia's ICT Sector

This workshop highlights the cyber security challenges faced by Zambia's ICT sector due to inadequate policies, personnel, and infrastructure. Learn about the successes and ongoing efforts to combat cyber crimes.

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Addressing Cyber Security Challenges in Zambia's ICT Sector

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  1. ITU Workshop on “ICT Security Standardizationfor Developing Countries” (Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014) Challenges and Successes in the Zambian ICT Security Sector Mainza Siamubayi Handongwe, Student Research Fellow, Information and Communications University Email: msh12600@gmail.com Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014

  2. Introduction • Zambia has made so much progress in the ICT sector • Over the years, we have seen the following major developments; • Three mobile telecommunication companies • Online services (e-commerce, e-learning, etc) • Web hosting • Internet Service Provision Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 2

  3. Introduction cont' • This has lead to exposure to several information security risks including; • Website defacement • Debit card stealing and cloning • Financial losses due to debit card cloning • Phishing • Internet bundle and mobile credit stealing • Denial of Service • Wireless network hacking Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 3

  4. Introduction cont' This, in most cases, has adversely affected socio-economic activities especially where cyber security preparedness is lacking Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 4

  5. Challenges • Zambia, like many developing countries, is faced with several challenges in the ICT sector • These include; • Inadequate policies to curb cyber crime • Inadequate qualified personnel to fight cyber crime • Inadequate ICT infrastructure to prevent and investigate cyber crime • Inadequate sensitization on cyber crime Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 5

  6. Inadequate policies to curb cyber crime Zambia had no specific legislation towards address cyber crime until 2004 Computer Crime and Misuse Act number 13 of 2004 enacted following defacement of State House website in 1999 Though it criminalizes some cyber crimes, the act still does not prohibit other major cyber crimes Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 6

  7. Inadequate policies to curb cyber crime cont' Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 7

  8. Inadequate policies to curb cyber crime cont' Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 8

  9. Inadequate policies to curb cyber crime cont' • Act imposes lighter sentences for crimes that would require hefty ones • The National ICT Policy of 2007 indicates government's commitment to promote safety in electronic frontier (Lupiya, 2009) Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 9

  10. Inadequate policies to curb cyber crime cont' However, the policy does not give mandate to relevant government departments and private sector to combat some cyber crime Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 10

  11. Inadequate qualified personnel to fight cyber crime 'According to an ICT industry skills survey, there were three hundred (300) people with graduate qualifications in ICTs in 2008'- S. Habeenzu Lack of ICT Staff structure (rural areas) Most network and systems administrators lack cyber security skills This could be attributed to limited number of institutions offering cyber security training Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 11

  12. Inadequate qualified personnel to fight cyber crime cont' The cost of training and certification is also limiting This makes networks/systems that are managed by such personnel vulnerable to attacks Investigation of such incidences becomes difficult due to lack of computer forensic skills Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 12

  13. ICT Staff Per Institution Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 13

  14. ICT Staff Per Institution ICT staff per institution and those with cyber security skills Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 14

  15. Inadequate ICT infrastructure to prevent and investigate cyber crime Prevention and investigation of cyber crime requires specialized hardware and software These include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, forensic software etc These usually call for huge investments Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 15

  16. Inadequate ICT infrastructure to prevent and investigate cyber crime cont' This tends to be the limiting factor for most government and private institutions Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 16

  17. Inadequate sensitization on cyber crime The fight against cyber crime would be fruitless without involvement of ICT end users Information sharing with citizens on cyber crime and counter measures was not done in the past, hence the ‘information gap' Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 17

  18. Inadequate sensitization on cyber crime cont' The Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) is currently sensitizing citizens on online child protection However, ZICTA's efforts are not adequate considering the the huge task to be undertaken Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 18

  19. Successes-Govt and Private Sector Establishment of the Zambia Information Communication Authority (ZICTA) to regulate ICT in Zambia Government has set up the first ever Computer Forensic Laboratory based at the Zambia Police Headquarters A number of police officers have been trained in Information Security and Computer Forensics The Zambian government has partnered with several local and international organizations (including ITU) in the fight against cyber crime Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 19

  20. Conclusions and Recommendations security to users or clients • Train and/or recruit more personnel in cyber security • Establish Computer Incident Response Teams at all levels in govt structures and the private sector • Sensitize citizens on cyber crime and counter measures, and encourage reporting of cyber crimes • Formulate policies that will mandate relevant departments to prevent and investigate cyber crime, and prosecute perpetrators of such crimes • Invest more in systems that prevent and help investigate cyber crime • Ensure that private institutions invest in systems that guarantee Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 20

  21. Bibliography HABEENZU S. (2010), Zambia ICT Sector Performance Review 2009/2010 LUPIYA S. (2009), Cyber Crime and the Law in Zambia Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 September 2014 21

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