ICT CS Willliam Kabogo Kicks Off The Africa CISO Summit

William Kabogo, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of ICT & Digital Economy (MICDE), has officially kicked off the Africa CISO Summit. He was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the ICT Authority of Kenya, Stanley Kamanguya, and other top government dignitaries.

In his keynote address, the CS emphasized on the importance of cloud computing and cyber security, which are the key Pillars at the heart of digital transformation. The two Pillars are instrumental in scaling operations, reducing operational costs and improving service delivery.

“The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy has championed the growth of innovation hubs and is working on initiatives that promote cloud computing and upskilling the workforce to bridge the talent gap in cloud computing and cyber security. We have developed the Kenya Cloud Policy that provides clear guidelines and initiatives to strengthen cyber security through stringent standards and solutions,” CS Kabogo said in his keynote address.

He further talked about his belief in technology and the potential that it brings to Kenya and the East African region. As a seasoned business man, Kabogo affirmed that his tenure at the helm of the ministry will see things get done. He also talked about his mission to have more women being represented in the technology sector.

“I remember during my first meeting in office, I was meeting department heads and there were only two women represented in a group of over 40 people. Our constitutions demands that we have more gender equality especially with the two thirds gender rule,” the CS said, adding that the Africa CISO Summit is already a testament of more women being involved in technology.

The Africa CISO Summit has brought together CISOs, government officials, regulators, and industry experts from across the continent to tackle the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing businesses and critical infrastructure. The two day event will feature presentations from top cybersecurity professionals and panel discussions amongst key stakeholders in the industry.

Giving his opening remarks, the Chairman of dx5, Harry Hare, talked about Africa’s cybersecurity landscape and gave the key insights, trends, and metrics, according to a survey done by CIO Africa. He further talked about the top cyber threats for any organization which are DDoS Attacks, Ransomware, Social Engineering, and Advanced Persistence.

If you are looking to follow the event virtually, you can do so via this link.