Zambia bolsters security operations against cyber threats

by ARNOLD MULENGA
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ZAMBIA is boosting collaborations with companies in the sector to strengthen the country’s cyber resilience.

It has teamed up with Fortinet, Micronics Consulting and QBS Software Africa through security operations (SecOps), which is the practice of combining an organisation’s information technology (IT) security team with its IT operations team to protect digital assets and respond to cyber threats faster.

This past weekend, the parties hosted a technical seminar exploring the evolving cybersecurity landscape and the growing need for organisations to enhance visibility, accelerate threat detection and strengthen protection across IT and operational technology (OT) environments.

The event convened representatives from government, industry, academia, and the technology sector to discuss how Zambia could collectively strengthen the security of its digital and industrial infrastructure.

Dr Brilliant Habeenzu, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Technology and Science, officially opened the gathering in Lusaka.

He said as the digital economy expanded, with mobile internet subscriptions reaching approximately 4,7 million by the end of 2025, the associated digital risks were growing.

“Cybersecurity is therefore no longer merely an IT concern but also an economic security, national security, business continuity and public trust issue,” Habeenzu said.

He noted cyber incidents could potentially move from the digital environment into the physical world.

“As a result, Zambia must protect not only computers and applications but also the systems responsible for operating the physical infrastructure upon which the economy depends.”

Habeenzu said Zambia could not rest on its laurels despite recording a 92,6 percent score on the Global Cybersecurity Index in 2024.

“This achievement does not mean the work is complete. Cybersecurity remains a shared responsibility requiring continued collaboration and investment.”

The Southern African country is boosting its response to cybercrime through new legislation, dedicated institutional enforcement, and expanded public reporting tools.

– CAJ News