The Cyber Security Authority’s licensing and accreditation programme will establish the country as a hub for cyber-security professionals, according to Prince Adu, Certification Chair at ISACA Accra Chapter.
The move, he said, will drive economic growth with cyber-security experts, organisations and service providers contributing to the nation’s progress by paying taxes and engaging in international partnerships.
Mr. Adu further emphasised that the CSA’s initiative will generate heightened interest in cyber-security careers among youth, fostering innovation and the growth of cyber-security-focused start-ups, thereby expanding and advancing the ecosystem.
Deadline
The CSA has set September 30, 2023 as the deadline for cyber-security service providers (CSPs), cyber-security establishments (CEs) and cyber-security professionals (CPs) to obtain the necessary license and accreditation.
Subsequently, it said public sector institutions will only engage CSPs, CEs and CPs that possess CSA-approved licenses and accreditation, thus aligning with Act 1038 and the Guidelines for CSP licensing and CES and CP accreditation.
Since the exercises commenced on March 1, 2023, a total of 448 cyber-security professionals, 25 cyber-security establishments and 92 cyber-security service providers have registered for the licensing and accreditation process, the CSA disclosed.
Announcing the September 30 deadline at a joint press conference between the CSA and Public Procurement Authority (PPA) in Accra, Director-General of the CSA, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, said: “Cyber is a global commodity, and you need to adopt certain best practices which are consistent with international best practices. But it’s a question of waiting for other countries to start first before you do. Ghana is leading the way in this direction, and the process has been smooth so far in terms of the registration processes and others”.
Reduced cyber risks
Lauding the collaboration between the CSA and PPA, Mr. Adu said the move would enhance government agencies’ cyber-security posture by promoting best practices and enabling accredited professionals to meet their specific needs, safeguarding against cyber threats.
“It will boost consumer confidence in cyber-security service providers and professionals through licensing and accreditation. This also means that all cyber-security providers will deliver high-quality services for customers, enhancing overall service quality,” he stated.
Partnership with PPA
The partnership with the Public Procurement Authority, which would take effect from October 1, 2023 – after the September deadline – would subject cyber-security entities to rigorous procurement procedures before they can deal with public sector institutions.
This, the Director-General of the CSA said, would ensure a robust and thorough vetting process for cyber-security service providers before their involvement in government projects.
Considering the cross-sectorial nature of cyber-security and its effects on the country’s socio-economic development, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako said it was expedient that the CSA collaborates with key agencies to ensure adequate systems and processes are put in place to promote cyber-resilience across sectors.
ISACA Accra Chapter is an organisation formed by I.T and audit professionals in Accra as part of the global network of more than 120,000 professionals in 180 countries.
The ISACA Accra Chapter was formed with a pertinent focus on information security to provide career opportunities to IT professionals and to ensure that best practice regulatory policies in information security compliance and IT audits are mainstreamed in the Ghanaian business environment.
The Accra Chapter has more than 600 members representing several companies in the country, with over 200 of them certified.
