Jakarta:The country's ongoing digital transformation is increasing the reliance on digital platforms for personal data processing, financial transactions, and critical operations. This includes a wide array of services such as mobile-money services, fintech platforms, government portals, and more, all of which now depend heavily on cloud infrastructure and third-party software.
According to Cameroon News Agency, this significant growth in digital services also raises the risk of cyber threats, such as credential theft, ransomware, and payment fraud. To address these vulnerabilities, merely purchasing cybersecurity tools or conducting occasional awareness campaigns is insufficient. A comprehensive security operating model is needed, encompassing governance, asset visibility, access control, and secure software engineering, among other aspects.
Cameroon has a statutory cybersecurity framework established by Law No. 2010/012, which lays the foundation for cybersecurity efforts. However, its effectiveness depends on the practical application of its principles across services. Organizations must be adept at identifying and controlling access to their systems and data, monitoring for misuse, and responding efficiently to incidents.
Cybersecurity should be approached as an operational risk, requiring clear responsibility at both executive and technical levels. Serious incidents can disrupt services, compromise sensitive information, and lead to financial or regulatory repercussions. Therefore, cybersecurity must be integrated into the organization's risk management framework.
Organizations need to maintain an up-to-date inventory of their digital assets, including websites, APIs, databases, and privileged accounts. Each asset should have designated ownership and security classifications to ensure proper protection and recovery priorities.
Identity security is crucial, as many cyberattacks result from compromised credentials. Implementing multi-factor authentication for critical systems and adopting phishing-resistant methods like FIDO2 security keys can significantly reduce the risk of credential theft.
In light of Cameroon's expansion of digital services, secure software development must be prioritized from the design phase. This includes threat modeling, secure coding, and vulnerability remediation. Similarly, API security is vital to protect the data interconnected through these systems.
Designing processes to resist fraud is essential, especially as AI tools make fraudulent activities more sophisticated. Organizations should utilize email security protocols and monitor for abnormal transaction behavior to prevent deception.
Despite preventive measures, the ability to detect and respond to cyber incidents swiftly is critical. Organizations should ensure they have a tested incident-response plan, using centralized monitoring to identify suspicious activities.
For policymakers, strengthening ANTIC's capabilities and enforcing baseline controls across digital services is crucial. Security requirements should be standard in public procurement, ensuring that technology contracts mandate secure development practices and incident-response capabilities.
Cameroon's digital future hinges on expanding services while ensuring security and resilience. An integrated approach to cybersecurity will foster sustainable innovation and public confidence, supporting economic growth and participation.
Recovery must be engineered in advance. Backups should be encrypted, segregated from production systems, protected by separate credentials and tested through actual restoration exercises. At least one critical backup copy should be offline, immutable or logically isolated so that ransomware cannot easily encrypt or delete it. CISA's ransomware guidance recommends maintaining offline, encrypted backups and regularly testing their availability and integrity. CISA #StopRansomware Guide