This document discusses cybersecurity challenges in West Africa and recommendations to address them. It finds that while technology is important, it alone cannot combat cyber threats given client-side vulnerabilities and cybercriminals exploiting the path of least resistance. It recommends taking a threat intelligence approach using internal and external sources as well as dark web monitoring. Big data analytics moving faster than criminals is also suggested. Establishing public-private partnerships for security-as-a-service and inter-operable legal frameworks with continuous education are presented as ways to better protect Africa consumers and organizations from internet threats.

1. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
Joel Amao – CTO
3T Solutions Consulting
Internet threats: How to protect
the Africa consumer

2. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
Cyber Security Landscape Through The Lens of History
Source: Getty images Archives

3. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
What's Driving The Cybercrime Economy ?
Cybercrime is
Big Business
• Organized & Global
• Entry-Barrier is very
low
Always-on &
Connected
• Social Media
• Physical and Digital
world are converging
No Governance
on the web
• One-Click away from
any domain
• Rise of Dark Web

4. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
What's Driving The Cybercrime Economy ?
Proliferation
of Smart
Phones
• Mobile economy
Cloud adoption
& BYOD
• SaaS Model
IOT
• Increase adoption of IOT-
enabled devices e.g. IP
Cameras

5. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
Current State in West Africa
Source: 2017 West Africa Cybersecurity Indexing and Readiness Assessment - https://cybersecurity.3tsconsulting.com
Have you or anyone you know
been a victim of cybercrime or
an attempted crime in the last
few months ?
Do you know of a company or
institution that has been at the
end of an infrastructure breach
in the last 12 months?
Has you company conducted a
cybersecurity vulnerability
assessment in the last 12
months?

6. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
Current State in West Africa
Source: 2017 West Africa Cybersecurity Indexing and Readiness Assessment -https://cybersecurity.3tsconsulting.com
How would you rate your organization or
institution readiness to combat cyber attacks ?
How many cyber security professionals
do you have in your workforce ?

7. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
Key Findings & How It Relates To A Digital West Africa
Technology
Technology alone cannot address the efforts to combat cyber-threats and
attacks
Client-side vulnerabilities
Most of the institutions are still very exposed to client-side vulnerabilities
Least path of resistance
Cybercriminals are using the path of least resistance, thus bypassing security
investments
Risk Management & Optimization
“He who defends everything, defends nothing” - Frederick the Great

8. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
What Needs To Change?
Threat Intelligence:
Internal Source
External Source
Dark Web
Visibility-Driven
Threat-Focused
Big Data Analytics:
Security needs to move
faster than the speed of
crime
Security analytics
Move Battle Front:
Partner with Service
Providers that offer
Cybersecurity-As-a-
Service
“Fight far”

9. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
What Needs To Change (contd) ?
Legal Framework:
Inter-operable legal
frameworks
Legislation and Policies
Visibility-Driven
Continuous Education:
Behavior Analytic
based training
Training and Awareness

10. Simplifying IT and Security Complexities
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“Coming together is a beginning
Keeping together is progress
Working together is success”
www.3tsconsulting.com
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