UCT making strides in cybersecurity

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ercrime is on the rise and higher education institutions continue to be at high risk of being attacked not only for their data, but also for their IT infrastructure, which if accessed, can aid cybercriminals with their illegal activities.

To this end, the UCT Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), managed by ICTS, has gone to significant lengths to ensure that the UCT network as well as its digital assets remain protected. Thanks to their work, UCT has now become the first higher education institution in Africa to become a full member of FIRST.

Founded in 1990, this prestigious forum is recognised as a global leader in incident response, with only 483 members from 84 countries representing the public, private and education sectors. UCT is only the third organisation in South Africa to be listed as a full member, and 14^th in Africa.

ICTS’s Information and Cybersecurity Services (ICS) Senior Manager, Roshan Harneker, who led the application says: “My sense is we are in good company and this membership will only help and strengthen our existing CSIRT capabilities. We (my team and I) are very happy with this outcome which has taken us a solid 7 months of work to achieve.”

UCT continuing to be a leader in cybersecurity

UCT CSIRT partnered with NRD Cyber Security, a consultancy specialising in security tech, incident response and research to mature the UCT CSIRT and assist with the university’s FIRST application process.

As a member, UCT has access to a network of the world’s leading security experts and will receive support in effectively and proactively managing IT security-related incidents.

This significant achievement sees UCT once again raising the bar in cybersecurity, and we hope it will inspire other higher education institutions to join this exclusive forum too.