An IT firm, Yelbridges is planning to set up approximately Sh150 million Virtual Conference Centre in Thika that will offer training on cybersecurity to IT professionals in the country.
The centre will be fitted with ultra-modern facilities that will enable real simulation and defence training of cyber-attacks, incident response as well as other offerings to enhance skills and learning amongst security analysts and IT practitioners.
“According to the Africa cybersecurity report, 96% of cyber incidents either go unreported or unresolved and this is part of what the Virtual Conference centre will focus on. In Africa, there are less than 10,000 certified cybersecurity professionals to protect a population of over 1.3 billion people across the continent. East Africa faces an acute cyber security skills gap with IT teams lacking the know-how on cyber defence skills against cyber-attacks,” Yelbridges Chief Operating Officer Steve Mambo said.
A recent baseline survey indicates that 90 per cent of organisations in Kenya operates below globally acceptable cybersecurity standard with the current cost of cyber-crime having climbed up from $2 billion in 2016 to $3.5 billion in 2017.
To further enhance cybersecurity skills in learning institutions, the company is partnering with universities and digital Innovation hubs to scale up modern security skills amongst students and practitioners pursuing IT security-related courses.
The company has already signed a memorandum under the Cyber4Growth program with UISU-Africa to offer specialized training in cybersecurity to students pursuing computer-related courses.
“Cyber4Growth program targets both private and public organizations to raise the level of security awareness in East Africa. We want to ensure that we walk with organizations in Kenya and across East Africa. We also aim to promote the economic competitiveness of companies in the region by offering top-notch Cyber Defense Simulated training to IT professionals,” Mambo added.
Students who graduate under the program are exposed to opportunities in Germany for further training before returning to the country to work as cybersecurity experts.
Yelbridges provides cyber security services to a number of organizations including Banks, MFI, Saccos, Insurance and Manufacturing industries. The East African cyber security company is based in Nairobi.
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