Technology has integrated the world into a global village, with its attendant tremendous risk of cyber-crime with increased incidence of cyber-attacks and threats.

To this end, there is need for a concerted effort by both the government and private sector to look for the best measure to address cyber-security.

According to Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, this would ensure better preparation in the widening cyber-security picture.

Abdullahi made the call at the Institute of Chartered Secretaries Administrators of Nigeria forty-fouth Annual Conference in Lagos, themed:” Entrenching the Right Governance Framework for Economic Development and Sustainability”.

According to him, the new normal in the COVID-19 pandemic where digital technologies played major roles had aggravated the threats of cyber-security for all business organisations, saying the creation of a culture of security consciousness in all dealings in the cyberspace.

He encouraged youths to set up more cyber-security response firms to assist organisations in safeguarding their infrastructure and software for cyber incident management, saying online services has created an avenue for cyber criminals to take advantage of the current situation by manipulating people to generate revenue for them.

In his word, the older population with less technical know-how now restricted to online purchases are also a vulnerable part of the population that would be more susceptible to fall victim of cybercrimes.

Abdullahi saying working from home, some employees use their personal computers which are less secured than their office-issued equipment, which are more easily breached than office secured networks.

He says efforts should be intensified at ensuring that any data was encrypted, particularly any sensitive or personal data.

He said the public should ensure that networks were fully secure by using wired network thereby protecting them from possible hackers’ attempt at using Wi-Fi security lapses to remotely break into computer systems.

He said there should be appropriate guidelines in place for connecting personal devices into the organisation’s network.

According to him, the public should ensure the use of credential vaults and multi-factor authentication instead of user passwords.

“Ensure that the organisation’s data and critical files are regularly backed up.

“Above all, ensure that there is an organisation-wide enlightenment campaign, awareness and measures put in place to deal with cyber security threats,” he said.

He stressed that the agency was working with all relevant stakeholders to come up with effective ways of adequately protecting the Nigerian cyberspace.

He, however, called on the citizens to support the agency by doing their best at protecting themselves as well as the information and systems under their care.

In his remarks, Managing Partner, Whitewall and Lysi and Greendoor Africa, Olatunji Ope, called for collective action by government and private organisations on corporate governance principles, to motivate economic growth.

Ope, advocating the set up of an agenda for an economically, socially and politically strong and viable Nigeria, said this could be achieved through the right governance framework.

He urged business entities to beware of cyber attacks, and create new accounts and access should the need arose.

“Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the fears of the Coronavirus and sending ‘phishing’ emails that try and trick users into clicking on a poisonous link.

“Once clicked, the user is sent to a dodgy website which can download malware onto your computer, or steal passwords.

“If the software to be used at home, it’s different from the one used in the office, you should produce written guides for these features, and test that the software works as described,” he said.