ESET, NITDA Collaborate on Cyberspace Security

Emma Okonji

Determined to put an end to cyber attacks and reduce online insecurity across organisations and tertiary institutions, ESET, a technology security company, has partnered the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to address security challenges.

The partnership, according to the technology company, would provide standards and guidelines in the protection of Nigeria cyberspace and ensure that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the federal government, secure their information technology infrastructure.

The partnership will enable NITDA, government’s institutions, and IT administrators to have access to periodic cyber security training by ESET experts on emerging threats.

Pleased with the collaboration, the Director-General at NITDA, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, said: “We are at a defining moment in the evolution and growth of the internet in running day to day activities and deliverables of government and schools. Large-scale data breaches, ransomware attack, cybercrime, surveillance and other online threats are eroding Nigerians’ trust on government e-platforms/websites and affecting how they use the internet as a whole.”
He said such security threats would make the partnership highly necessary to provide awareness and education on cybersecurity and also ensure that all government and private institutions are protected by a tested and trusted Information Technology (IT) security solution provider.

“ESET, an IT Security company will support and drive NITDA’s role in providing and jointly developing frameworks for data protection and safe cyberspace in Nigeria,” ESET Country Manager, Mr. Olufemi Ake, stated.

According to him, the partnership is also part of activities to mark the 30th anniversary of ESET, disclosing that the company would provide schools in Nigeria with free internet security on their connected devices through a scheme tagged ESET Secure School Initiative.
Ake said the scheme is designed to sensitise over 70 per cent of the academia in cyber security and the need for proactive protection of research data.

The Project Coordinator and Marketing Manager at ESET, Mr. Olabanji Soledayo confirmed that the ESET Secure School Initiative would provide platform which delivers end-to-end protection for the school environment and private users such as students in campuses.

“The scheme will offer one of its award-winning products named ESET Internet Security to the students and staff of participating schools with amazing features such as Data Protection, Web Control, Ransomware Protection, Antivirus, Anti-phishing, Anti-theft, Private Wi-Fi Protection, and Internet Banking and Online Shopping Protection,” Soledayo said.

“The product will be available to students for free and it is compatible with all operating systems such as Windows, Mac and Android, as well as any internet connected devices,” he added.