Staff Writer
The Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT) hosted a One-Day Masterclass on Cyber Incident Handling, Response and Crisis Communication on the margins of the ICT Summit.
The masterclass, held as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, brought together systems administrators, information security officers, communications practitioners and representatives from government offices, ministries and agencies, as well as the private sector, to strengthen their preparedness and response to cyber incidents.
Participants gained practical knowledge on cyber incident preparedness, detection, response coordination, crisis communication, recovery, and business continuity.
The programme also included a tabletop exercise that allowed participants to simulate real-world cyber incidents and explore how organisations can respond effectively during a crisis.
Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)’s chief executive officer and head of NAM-CSIRT, Emilia Nghikembua, emphasised that cybersecurity is no longer only a technical matter but also an organisational, economic and national security concern.
“The masterclass aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of incident response procedures, coordination mechanisms, stakeholder responsibilities and effective communication before, during and after a cyber incident.”
She further highlighted the importance of equipping organizations with practical tools to improve preparedness, resilience, and recovery.
Wenzel Kavaka, deputy minister of information and communication technology, said: “Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, frequent and disruptive. She reminded participants that every connected organisation is a potential target and called for a proactive approach to cybersecurity.”
Additionally, Kavaka emphasised that, “Preparedness requires the involvement of organisational leadership, legal teams, communications practitioners, risk managers and technical personnel.”
He further stressed that effective communication is as important as the technical response when managing a cyber incident, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Namibia’s cybersecurity capabilities through collaboration among regulators, industry, academia, civil society and international partners.
Cornelia Shipindo, executive of NAM-CSIRT, highlighted that, “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires technical expertise, leadership support and strategic communication. We cannot predict when a cyber incident will occur, but we can ensure that our organisations are ready to respond swiftly, communicate responsibly and recover effectively.”
Shipindo encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained, share lessons with their colleagues, and promote a culture of cyber resilience within their organisations.
Through initiatives such as this masterclass, CRAN and NAM-CSIRT continue to promote cybersecurity awareness, strengthen incident response capabilities and encourage organisations to take proactive measures to protect their systems, information and services.
