Mauritius: Enhancing cyber resilience and consolidating Mauritius’s preparedness to detect cyber threats is key to protecting the citizens and economies in the face of future challenges, stated the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, Mr Darsanand Balgobin, today, at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Tower, Cyber City in Ebène.
He was speaking at the opening of a workshop on Cyber Resilience and Simulation, organised by the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation in collaboration with the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-MU). The aim is to provide insight into the new Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act 2021 and discuss the role of the National Cybersecurity Committee (NCC).
The ICT Minister underlined that cybersecurity is a must-have to protect businesses and the Government’s assets. According to him, it is imperative to strengthen public and private sector efforts to develop strategies for cyber security and cybercrime. The Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Act 2021, he said, repeals the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act 2003 and provides for the setting up of a Committee and a comprehensive legal framework to deal with cybercrime.
He informed that the Council of Europe had assisted Mauritius in the drafting of the law in line with the Budapest Convention and Malabo Convention, adding that the law is here to protect our cyberspace. “Our connectivity and ICT infrastructure is well set, but we need maximum protection for our cyberspace”, he said.
The Minister indicated that some 1,162 cases of online harassment, scams and data hacking were reported on the Mauritian Cybercrime Online Reporting System (MAUCORS) from January 2023 till date and, hence the need to strengthen our cyber resilience.
Initiatives such as the National Cyber Incident Response Plan and the Security Operations Centre, as well as the implementation of legal frameworks, he stated, have played an important role in its ranking of Mauritius in the International Telecommunication Union Global Cybersecurity Index first place in Africa and 17th globally.
In addition, he pointed out that an ITU Academy Training Centre has been set up to enhance the training and capacity building of experts and professionals in ICT. “It is a matter of pride that countries like Rwanda, Togo, Botswana, Malawi and Seychelles are seeking the expertise of Mauritius to address issues pertaining to cybersecurity”, stated the Minister.
He further underlined that his Ministry is working to improve the global ranking of Mauritius in the next edition of the ITU index, which is due by the end of this year. It is also working on the implementation of the Critical Information Infrastructure Framework to strengthen the security of the Mauritian Critical Information Infrastructures, he added.
As for the Chairperson of the NCC, Dr Viv Padayatchy, he spoke on the role and functions of the Committee, adding that it has, as its objectives, to advise the Government on cybersecurity and cybercrime matters, implement policies and establish cybersecurity best practices. The NCC, he said, is a multi-stakeholder committee comprising representatives from the public and private sectors in the field of cybersecurity and cybercrime.
He also dwelt on the need to seek international help and collaboration with countries that are more advanced in the ICT sector for the capacity building of local professionals.
