Security conference calls for cybercrime prevention

Lt. Col. (Rtd) Mathews Waria, Director Sentinel Protection Services Ltd giving a speech during Securexpo East Africa conference at Sarit Center, Nairobi, on March 7-9, 2023. PHOTO/Securexpo.
Lt. Col. (Rtd) Mathews Waria, Director Sentinel Protection Services Ltd giving a speech during Securexpo East Africa conference at Sarit Center, Nairobi, on March 7-9, 2023. PHOTO/Securexpo.

The recently concluded 5th Securexpo East Africa 2023 rooted for sustainability in the Cyber and Homeland Security and Fire and Safety industry in East Africa.

The Montogomery Group organized the three-day event held at Sarit Centre, Westlands, Nairobi between March 7 and 9, 2023.

It brought together keynote speakers and top dignitaries such as the former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Francis Shiyuka, CEO of Kenya Security Industry Association (KSIA), Lt. Col. (Rtd) Mathews Waria, Director Sentinel Protection Services Ltd, Francis Liech, Secretary General and co-founder Kenya National Fire Brigade Association (KENFIBA).

The event, one of its kind in East Africa, is an annual conference bringing together over 3,000 visitors from East Africa and worldwide exhibiting their brands with industry-leading educational conferences to stimulate inspiration and knowledge sharing.

The main focus was enhancing security and safety in the Cyber, Homeland Security, and Fire and Safety industries. 

Francis Shiyuka, CEO of Kenya Security Industry Association (KSIA), durig the expo. PHOTO/Securexpo.
Francis Shiyuka, CEO of Kenya Security Industry Association (KSIA), durig the expo. PHOTO/Securexpo.

Topics covered included self-protection, the role of architects in designing for fire safety in buildings; training, upskilling, and capacity building for the cybersecurity workforce; and how cybersecurity can affect digital transformation.

Women crushing ceiling

Despite the security sector being rather male-dominated, Michelle Brenda and her counterpart, Celine Were, both from Lady Askari, a security firm, are among many women who have shattered the glass ceiling and are now occupying spaces in the security sector.

They are making their voices count on security-related issues. 

Michelle Brenda presenting during the security conference. PHOTO/Securexpo.
Michelle Brenda presenting during the security conference. PHOTO/Securexpo.

Ms. Brenda feted women for their increased involvement in security matters.

“I am glad that despite the security industry being male-dominated, more women are taking up the space,” she enthused.

Self-protection

On her part, Ms. Were gave insights into ways of protecting oneself.

“You should be responsible for your security to enhance your safeness and avert danger. The following are striking techniques you can equip yourself for self-defense mechanisms:

Hammer Fist: aim for the nose, throat, solar plexus, groin, and Eye Gouge; aim for the eyes, fingers apart, or together or use the thumb,” Ms. Were instructed.

She further added that women can use their voices as a weapon whenever in a dire situation.

“You have to be courageous and use your voice whenever you are in a tough situation,” she said.

Ms. Were further warned ladies not to use excessive force whenever they are protecting themselves against danger.

“Use proportionate force so that you cannot injure the person whom you are defending yourself from,” she adds.

Celine Were. She talked of security approaches to self-defense. PHOTO/Securexpo.
Celine Were. She talked of security approaches to self-defense. PHOTO/Securexpo.

The speakers also delved into ways in which Cyber Security can be augmented through upskilling the workforce. 

In his presentation on Training, upskilling, and capacity building for the cybersecurity workforce, Eng. Jones Baraza, Founder of Swift Intellect Limited and Cyberspace Kenya, reiterated that cybersecurity professionals must be knowledgeable about current trends of security threats for them to remain relevant in their profession. 

“Cyber security is a field you have to research. You have to keep up learning. If you don’t you will remain irrelevant. Tech and cyber threats are constantly changing and cybersecurity professionals must continuously update their skills and knowledge to keep up with the latest developments,” Eng. Baraza emphasizes.

Relevant workforce

He further suggested ways to ensure an organization’s workforce remains relevant.

“The workforce should be up-to-date with current threats. Organizations should train their workforce on matters dealing with cybersecurity. Cybersecurity staff should have more than one certification in the cybersecurity field in order to have a vast knowledge of cybersecurity issues. 

Eng. Jones Baraza, Founder of Swift Intellect Limited and Cyberspace Kenya, during his presentation. PHOTO/Securexpo.
Eng. Jones Baraza, Founder of Swift Intellect Limited and Cyberspace Kenya, during his presentation. PHOTO/Securexpo.

All departments within an organization should work as a unit to fight security threats. Gamification (adding game mechanisms to nongame environments to encourage competition among employees) through the capture the flag competition, which motivates employees to keep up learning,” Eng. Baraza recommends.

Eng. Baraza also recommended organizations consider recruiting college students.

“It would be ideal for organizations to try and recruit them early. By the time they are through with their studies, they have competent skills to work in your organization,” Eng. Baraza advises.

He also encouraged organizations to contact experts externally and not only rely on their employees on matters dealing with cybersecurity issues.

He added that companies should invest in cybersecurity systems such as tech and intrusion prevention systems.

“No organization is 100% foolproof. Therefore they need to invest in tech systems and intrusion prevention systems,” Eng. Baraza explained.

Mr. Baraza’s sentiments were echoed by his counterpart in the Kenya Cybersecurity and Forensics Association, Vice president Fredrick Wahome, who reiterated that IT personnel should continuously learn new skills to remain apposite in the cybersecurity industry.

“If you are an IT person and you don’t upskill, you will be irrelevant and get fired,” Mr. Wahome warned.

Digital transformation

Apart from upskilling in cybersecurity professional discourse, Mr. Wahome also spoke about Digital Transformation, which he defined as using digital technologies to create new or modify existing business processes, culture, and customer experiences to meet changing business and market requirements.

Kenya Cybersecurity and Forensics Association, Vice president Fredrick Wahome. PHOTO/Courtesy.
Kenya Cybersecurity and Forensics Association Vice President, Fredrick Wahome. PHOTO/Courtesy.

Mr. Wahome advised organizations to refrain from being averse to digital transformation.

“If a business doesn’t go through a digital transformation, there is a risk it may get left behind. If it does, there is an inherent and increased risk of cybercrime,” Mr. Wahome cautions.

He advised organizations to consider taking the digital transformation path and consult cybersecurity experts as they seek to follow that path.

“Getting a cybersecurity expert involved in the digital process at the very start can help the company avoid an expensive and damaging data breach,” Mr. Wahome explained.

He further reiterated that organizations should recognize cybersecurity in their quest to transition to digital transformation.

“Organizations can’t afford to leave cybersecurity as an afterthought to the digital transformation process. Investing in digitalization without shoring up cybersecurity practices is as misguided as building a house without foundation. 

But when the groundwork is laid, trailblazers are free to innovate and take their organizations to new heights,” Mr. Wahome offers.

Safety

Fire and safety precaution measures discourse also dominated the conference. 

Nicholas Simwichi, an architect and a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK), urged professionals within the fire and safety building industry to work together to succeed in the industry.

“For success in the industry, architects, structural engineers, and service engineers should work collaboratively,” Mr. Simwichi noted.

Mr. Deotte Raphael, Director and Commercial Sales Manager, Protection Safety Group, urged organizations to have a fire safety first response to allow people’s evacuation and save lives, to reduce the spread of fire, preserve as much as possible the structure and enable firefighters to intervene. 

Mr. Deotte Raphael, Director and Commercial Sales Manager, Protection Safety Group delivering his input. PHOTO/Securexpo.
Mr. Deotte Raphael, Director and Commercial Sales Manager, Protection Safety Group, delivering his input. PHOTO/Securexpo.

 He recommended inter-connectable smoke detectors, automatic smoke exhaust systems, mobile fire safety stands, and fire safety training.

On his part, Francis Liech, Secretary General and Co-Founder of Kenya National Fire Brigade Association (KENFIBA), called on the national government to return fire management responsibilities under it.

“National government should take fire management responsibilities and not devolve it to the counties because the fire equipment is very expensive for the county,” Mr. Liech urged.

Principles of security

Matters on homeland security were also discussed where the speaker, Lt. Col. (Rtd) Waria, shed light on basic principles of homeland security. 

He listed the following as basic principles of security:

Security: In this context, security is measures taken to deter, prevent and impede terrorist threats and mitigate casualties and disruptions while ensuring rapid recovery.

Intelligence: Homeland security can only be possible with an element of local intelligence to identify threats well in advance.

Resources: To function optimally, the national machinery has to be well-resourced with hardware and up-to-date training modules covering existing and future threats.

Ibrahim Murithi of Western Digital (in blue T-shirt), showcasing their products in an exhibition booth. PHOTO/Securexpo.

Mr. Waria further gave mitigations on how to curb insecurity.

 “One should be proactive. Every time you are proactive you will react to things in good time. We must have civic education about homeland security. One should also have fierce patriotism,” Mr. Waria advised.

Besides the keynote speakers’ presentations, various exhibitors displayed cutting-edge technologies at their booths.

The Western Digital showcased its WD Purple and WD Purple Pro ranges, which are purpose-built for intelligent video surveillance storage and stand up to harsh environments and 24/7 operations while minimizing frame loss to capture needed footage reliably.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: Women propagate digital innovations for gender equality 

The conference couldn’t come at a better time. Digitization is taking the world by storm, and as it evolves, cybersecurity threats must be addressed promptly.

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Mr. Odongo is a Multimedia journalist and a Voice Over artist with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. His major interests are in Technology and other human interest stories. His contact: odongoowinomichael@gmail.com

4 COMMENTS

  1. Good one, advising on where to hit hardest when under attack. The next column after next conference will have to delve deeper into the implementation, and how stakeholders are going about it, together with government.

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