Namibia’s Cybersecurity Concerns: A Growing Threat

As Namibia’s digital landscape expands, so does the threat of cybercrime. The lack of a national center for identifying vulnerabilities and threats has allowed a cybercrime ecosystem to thrive undetected, hindering digital expansion and growth.

Insufficient Cybersecurity Awareness

Despite the growing threat, many organizations, especially micro- to medium enterprises, are inadequately prepared to guard against cybercrime. A lack of awareness and education about risks and red flags reduces their ability to protect services from attacks.

• 90% of mobile money transactions in Africa are still driven by USSD codes, which are vulnerable to security threats and tampering.
• Many organizations underrate cybersecurity risk due to a lack of awareness and education.
• Rural areas with low internet exposure are extremely vulnerable when people come online, making them an easy target for cybercriminals.

National Cybersecurity Strategy

To address these concerns, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has launched a National Cybersecurity Strategy and Awareness Creation Plan. The plan aims to:

• Protect critical information infrastructure
• Educate the public on cybersecurity best practices
• Collaborate with public and private entities on cybersecurity

The plan targets government employees, schools, and the general public, focusing on building awareness around mobile technologies and safe use of applications.

Private Sector Partnership

To support the plan, the government has partnered with SALT Essential IT, a Namibian company, to develop and deliver cybersecurity training to government employees. The partnership aims to:

• Increase security awareness among the general population
• Develop secure applications and infrastructure

Experts emphasize that raising awareness is just one building block for an improved security posture. A meshed approach is required, including partnerships with the private sector.

Challenges Ahead

Namibia faces several challenges in developing its cybersecurity strategy, including:

• Lack of national threat intelligence
• Limited cybercrime reporting
• Unique cultural and language differences that require context-specific awareness programs

The Payment Association of Namibia has urged the government to prioritize cybersecurity, recognizing the growing threat of cybercrime to financial systems. As Namibia continues to digitalize, it is essential that the government and private sector work together to address these challenges and protect the country’s digital landscape.