ICT Policy Africa

	
  
2.2.5. Cyber Security [CS]
Cyber security is at the core of a knowledge-based society and as such must be a national
priority. It ensures secure management of all deployed ICT assets that support all facets of
Rwanda’s ICT goals. To fully realize ICT benefits, there must be full confidence that
information and communication systems are secure and dependable. The Internet exposes
Rwandans to global networks, which are prone to advanced and repeated cyber-attacks.
Therefore, Rwanda must continue investing in IT and information security to ensure the
protection and integrity of national information and ICT assets. The scope of cyber security is
three fold. First is to increase the level of cyber security awareness and protect key ICT assets
against attacks. Second is to build local capabilities to respond to attacks as well as foster
international cooperation on cyber security. Third is to create a legal and regulatory environment
to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities.
Mission: “To secure Rwanda’s cyberspace and information assets”
Objectives
1: (CS-01) Develop cyber security awareness
Rwanda’s ICT infrastructure demands that every Rwandan participate in safeguarding it. Cyber
attacks can come in the form of virus-infested hardware or casual access to malicious sites that
cause serious harm to the country’s critical infrastructure. Therefore, to fully safeguard ICT
infrastructure assets, all Rwandans must learn about ICT security, which requires due diligence.
2: (CS-02) Build Cyber-security capabilities
Building appropriate cyber security capabilities is critical to ensuring that Rwanda possesses
adequate and relevant capacity to counter any attacks. While ICT infrastructure is protected by
built in state-of-the-art security technology and solutions, it is extremely important that Rwanda
builds national capacity to safeguard ICT assets, as built in protection is not sufficient and
sustainable.
3: (CS-03) Ensure Rwanda’s critical infrastructure and systems protection from cyber
attacks
Rwanda built state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure during NICI II. However, impending attacks on
the country are of grave concern and pose real and credible threats to deployed assets. Therefore,
it is imperative that there is adequate planning to ensure mechanisms are in place to counter or
mitigate future threats.
4: (CS-04) Foster national and international cooperation to handle cyber crimes and
threats
Cyber attacks are increasingly global in nature and as such, it is no longer feasible or appropriate
to simply handle them at a national level. Therefore, global cooperation and collaboration to
safeguard interdependent infrastructure and mitigate the effects of cyber attacks is increasingly
necessary.
Page 25 of 85	
  
© No part of this document can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise - without the permission of Rwanda Ministry in charge of ICT in the Office of the
President.