Gov’t secures cyber-security operations centre to protect data of MDAs

The cybersecurity incidents affecting Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country from hence would be secured to the highest protection level through the launch of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) Security Operations Centre (SOC).

The SOC would serve as a highly command center of skilled and talented ethical hackers and security analysts operating with defined processes and supported by integrated security intelligence technologies with focus on cyber threats, monitoring, forensic investigations, incident management, reporting, escalation and close with proper justification and root cause of events and incidents.

The launch which happened last Friday, October 23, 2020 at the Ministry of Communication in Accra forms part of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month program to build capacity and raise awareness on cybercrimes; and the need to improve Ghana’s cybersecurity readiness among children, the general public, corporate Ghana and government agencies under the theme ‘‘Cybersecurity in the era of COVID-19”.

The sector Minister, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, explained that the NITA-SOC, would work with the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GH) and the IT teams of the MDAs to ensure that all activities undertaken by MDAs within the digital ecosystem is secured and safeguarded to ensure effective delivery of services by MDAs.

She said with advanced analytical and correlation technology to recognize threats, the SOC would aid in the identification of patterns and prioritization of problems for optimized resource and threat management adding that, it would not operate in isolation but in collaboration with the entire CERT ecosystem led by the National CERT under the direction of the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC).

“The operationalization of this initiative marks another monumental stride in our efforts towards securing Ghana’s digital journey as we continue to pursue the digitalization agenda ardently. Cyber-attacks have continuously plagued nations and economies worldwide and Ghana is no exception. it is now very evident, especially in this pandemic era, that Information Communications Technology (ICT) is a very vital facilitator for socio-economic development. From commerce, education, health through to communication, information technology forms the foundation on which various sectors thrive.”

She continued, “The launch of this facility today is to improve operational engagement and efficiency between NITA-CERT and CERT-GH for effective response to cybersecurity incidents affecting MDAs. To further improve cybercrime and cybersecurity incident reporting and response, I launched the Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Points of Contact last year during the National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2019 to provide channels for incident reporting by the public. Ladies and gentlemen, these initiatives are contributing to the formative development of our national cybersecurity capabilities. I must say that we are not there yet as a lot more investment is required and that is why my Ministry has drafted and presented the Cybersecurity Bill 2020 to Cabinet for consideration.”

Benefits

The National Cybersecurity Advisor, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako in his remarks highlighted that the establishment of a Security Operations Centre (SOC) at the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) marks another milestone of government’s strategic intervention to scale up cybersecurity readiness.

He explained that the center, together with other similar interventions including the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) for the telecommunications sector at the National Communications Authority and the Security Operations Centre (SOC) launched by the Bank of Ghana in 2018.

“Between January and August of this year alone, more than 5000 residents made contact with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), through the National CERT, for guidance and advice in addressing cybersecurity issues of which most of them involved online fraud. Thus, the work of the National CERT through the PoC has potentially spared more than 5000 Ghanaians from being defrauded,” he said.

NITA’s mandate

The Director-General of the NITA, Mr. Richard Okyere, said NITA’s mandates was mainly to regulate the provision of Information Communications Technology (ICT), ensure the provision of quality information communications technology, promote standards of efficiency and ensure high quality of service.

He said “the quest to ensure the provision of quality information communication technology and promoting standards of efficiency and high-quality service cannot be achieved without making sure that there is some high level of assurance of operating in a safe and secured cyber space.”

He noted that the establishment of the SOC would specifically focus on cyber threats, monitoring, forensic investigations, incident management, reporting, escalation and close with proper justification and root cause of events and incidents, hence enhancing the country’s ICT architecture.