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The Liberian government has become cognizant of the threat of cyber crime that is affecting countries and companies globally.

Against this back ground the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, (LIBTELCO), yesterday convened the nations first annual National Cyber Security Forum at a resort in Monrovia to deliberate on the establishment of a national cyber-security strategy against external invaders.

The forum is focused on creating awareness for cyber security and its implications for the government, business, and society. The event was graced by some of the sub-regions leading cyber security experts from business, government, and academia.

We are proud to be hosting this event and appreciate the important role that cyber security plays to ensure our economy operates securely, said Dr. Darren Wilkins, Managing Director of LIBTELCO. We look forward to working with our colleagues toward the development of a national cyber security strategy in the near future.

The future of every entity in Liberia that uses computers and the internet hinges on its approach to cyber security.

By bringing thoughtful people of like minds together from across disciplines, we can transform our country from a start-up nation to a cyber-nation, cognizant of cyber security and cyber threats, Dr. Wilkins explained.

Several institutions from various sectors of Liberia are participating in the event. The program also brings together cyber security experts from the Ivory Coast, Liberia, United States, and China.

Making a presentation at the conference, an Ivoirian Business Development Manager, Koffi Adjoumani, said the issue of cyber security should not be overlooked by any government or entity.

On the topic, Cyber Security Awareness, Mr. Adjoumani noted that it is hard to time that Africans began to prepare themselves against the threat of hackers, who are causing a substantial amount of damage across the globe. This is a threat that is invading the globe and we have to prepare ourselves for it. There is no better way to go about that than to convene such a gathering where we can put our ideas together, he said.

Some of the major contributors to the event include Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and several other institutions from both the public and private sectors.

LIBTELCO Head of Cyber Security, Al-hassan Sheriff noted that the conference would not have come at no better time as the nation is about to go to a very important election.

He indicated that the need for a vibrant cyber security program in the country cannot be overemphasized. We need a very strong strategy that will help protect our country. The sooner we do this, the better it is for us, Mr. Sheriff said.

It is my hope that this event will address and increase our awareness on cyber-security and bring us together for a closer collaboration on this very important subject.

The advent and use of the internet and its accompanying technologies has made it imperative for all of us to understand the basic understanding of the cyber threat, cybercrime, and cyber security, he said.

The internet is a communication tool that now affects almost every aspect of our lives, from education to entertainment to banking, health, sports among others.

What the entire internet has brought to us for comfort has altered our daily routine. The internet is also the world marketplace, where trillions in financial deals occur yearly. Moreover, as technology advances, especially Wi-Fi technology, the internet has become widely accessible by smaller and smaller mobile users, he said.

See the article here:
LIBTELCO Hosts First Cyber Security Confab - Liberian Daily Observer