In a bid to ensure continuity in delivery of essential public services in Cameroon, whose provision rely on the Internet and related critical infrastructure, the National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies, (ANTIC), has elected to pre-empt risks that may undermine effective service delivery with the view to putting in place corresponding security measures.

“Critical infrastructure are indispensable assets for the smooth functioning of any modern economy since they contribute to the provision of vital resources and services such as: water, electricity, transport, telecommunications and financial services without which it would be difficult to envisage good living conditions for the population,” ANTIC’s Director General Prof. Ebot Ebot Enaw, underlined as he addressed participants at the outset of a National Risks Assessment Workshop co-organised by ANTIC and the Commonwealth, 02-04 April 2019 in Yaounde. He noted that, identifying, assessing and neutralising risks that may jeopardise the functioning of such infrastructure is paramount.

The workshop brought together Information Technology (IT) Security staff of strategic state institutions, who were trained on IT risks assessment, critical assets identification criteria  and data collection with regard to critical assets in Cameroon’s cyberspace.   

One major outcome of this workshop will be the establishment of an inventory of critical cyber risks in Cameroon.

With the advent of the Internet and rapid technological advancements, most critical assets, including infrastructure supporting banking services, government services are now connected to the Internet, thereby ameliorating service delivery and unfortunately increasing the vulnerabilities of these assets to cyber threats. According to Prof Ebot, such threats, if not adequately addressed could negatively influence the economy and security of a nation, the wellbeing of the population and the safety of goods.

The workshop is therefore the lead to measures intended to avert such a scenario in Cameroon’s cyberspace.

Speaking as he presided at the opening ceremony of the capacity building workshop,  the British High Commissioner in Cameroon, His Excellency Rowan Laxton, lauded ANTIC’s efforts in checking cyber risks, which pose enormous danger to democracy, public order and national security.

Three experts from the Commonwealth and one from ANTIC animated the workshop.