Govt, Microsoft partner on cyberspace management

MICROSOFT yesterday announced a partnership with the Federal Government through the office of National Security Adviser to build capacity of various cadres of security personnel in the country.

Speaking in Abuja at a one-day workshop organized in conjunction with the office of the National Security Adviser, Head of Microsoft group in Nigeria, Kabelo Makwane, said that the partnership with the Nigerian government was the company’s contribution to building Nigeria’s capacity to master cyber security in all its ramifications.

The whole essence of this partnership is to help Nigeria build capacity to enhance cyber security and national security. We have a lot to offer in this regard to mitigate country-to-country cyber attacks, threats from hackers and issues of malicious code.

National Security Adviser, Major General Babangida Monguno said at the event that Nigeria values cooperation of this kind especially now that the world was going digital in information and security management.

Monguno said that the Nigerian government was aware that the cyberspace provided lots of opportunities for economic advancement of individuals and corporate entities, but added that government was worried that the cyberspace had also been abused of late by certain users who commit various atrocities, in addition to jeopardizing the nation’s national security.

Director of Cyber-security Policy, Microsoft, Jan Neutze explained that the role of ICT in information and security management was key.
Neutze advised the Federal Government to make sure a secure security baseline was laid down, with a directive for constant monitoring to ensure compliance by users at various levels.