Stung by cyber attacks, State resolves to host websites locally

Attacks on KDF Twitter account and others have put the country’s cyber security in the spotlight. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• ICT Authority chief executive Victor Kyalo said that the meeting agreed to fast-track implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy.
• One of the government’s biggest challenges in ensuring the security of its online operations is the level of decentralisation.

By NATION REPORTER
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All State-owned websites will be hosted locally in order to curb rising cases of cyber security attacks.

This was a key resolution at a crisis meeting held on Thursday between top security officials and the Ministry of ICT.

 

Held at Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), the meeting was called to discuss the safety preparedness of the government to handle cyber attacks.

It comes just days after hacking of the Kenya Defence Forces’ social media accounts including the official email account of the military spokesperson Emmanuel Chirchir.

In attendance were ICT principal secretary Joseph Tiampati, representatives of the National Intelligence Service, Kenya Defence Forces, CID, CAK director-general Francis Wangusi and ICT Authority chief executive.

“We’ve agreed to immediately shift all our websites to local hosting and have them managed from a central point which will be the ICT Authority,” Mr Wangusi (left) told the Nation.

ICT Authority chief executive Victor Kyalo said that the meeting agreed to fast-track implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy in order to curb the menace.

“We have to work together on this one. We are going to move with speed with the implementation of the strategy to enhance our security even in the future,” Mr Kyalo added.

One of the government’s biggest challenges in ensuring the security of its online operations is the level of decentralisation. Currently, each ministry, department and agency has virtual autonomy over its website, the software it chooses to use as well its social media accounts.

And with the ongoing initiative to digitise government records and digitise most of its services, the threat of incurring more cyber security attacks is real and requires hasty action.

In an earlier interview, IT security firm, Serianu managing director William Makatiani said the government must its match cyber-security measures with its efforts to digitise operations.