INFORMATION RISK
OPTIMISTIC PROTECTION OF AFRICANS ONLINE Adrien Diarra, Information Risk Expert, discusses optimism for tech development in Africa, the importance of digital safety literacy and the urgent need for cyber hygiene at the user level Writer: Marcus Kääpä
We live in an increasingly technology-defined world. It’s great news for Africa, where 75 percent of the population is under 35, and the improvements in access and affordability of data are driving more opportunities for innovators. However, 70 percent of the continent still lacks reliable internet, and there exists an unprecedented opportunity to help harness the potential and growth ahead.” For Adrien Diarra, Information Risk Expert, raising the baseline of secure tech adoption across Africa, and the benefits that stem from it, stand as the answer to the continent’s growth and success. Digital safety literacy is a prerequisite to this adoption. It will foster the establishment of a tech-savvy continental population that can utilise present tools and products en masse, and integrate itself successfully into the global digital community while remaining secure online. 10 | Africa Outlook issue 94
“There are opportunities for early adopters in the tech sphere, whether these are start-ups, government agencies, or others,” Diarra tells us. “This provides a better experience for everybody involved, from developers to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and consumers.” Helping SMEs and promoting community mentorship are two factors towards building a healthy baseline for the tech community. They are key to keeping people safe online while maximising facilitation and technological know-how. “One important aspect of this is aiding SMEs to better access good practices that will allow them to leverage the 20 percent of security controls that help mitigate 80 percent of known risks to misusing data,” Diarra says.
PRESENT DEVELOPMENT At the same time as this increase in tech adoption, cybersecurity investments and developments are becoming the core part of many companies, agencies and nations. According to the African Centre for Strategic Studies, by 2023, the size of Africa’s cybersecurity market is estimated to reach $23 billion, a tenfold increase from 2020. This aligns with the very present and growing dangers of the digital realm. This is especially concerning when we consider organised crime syndicates whose actions impact thousands of people around the continent. For example, a recent vulnerability given the name Log4Shell was found in Apache Log4j, a widely used
