Norway Registers Development (NRD) AS, partly financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), has finished a mission in Tanzania. The purpose of the visit was to expand the operations in Tanzania / East African Community (EAC) through partnerships and to establish a Tanzanian Entity to deliver professional quality services in the areas of cyber-security, defence implementation, business continuity planning, IT security controls implementation and auditing.
During the visit, a seminar on cyber-security was held in Dar es Salaam, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ISACA Tanzania Chapter was signed. This has put a firm base to the cooperation between NRD AS and ISACA Tanzania Chapter and the development of consultative Tanzanian National Cyber security framework.
The purpose of the MoU signed between the NRD and ISACA Tanzania Chapter is to express common interest and will of the parties to cooperate in the development of consultative Tanzanian National Cyber-security framework and its implementation within public and private sector. A global partnership will work as an advisory body that connects public and private sectors in order to ensure a safe and reliable business environment locally and internationally. In order to achieve this goal, a complex framework includes but is not limited to auditing, capacity building, preparation of structure and principles, tools and technologies to proactively and reactively automate security.
‘NRD AS will ensure that the company’s strategy for Tanzania and East Africa will be made known to the authorities and the donor organizations in order to explore if highly recognized qualifications in cyber security and sustainable register solutions are assets that will be welcome as a contribution to the development of the Tanzania and the East African Community’, – said Jon Birger Fjalestad, NRD AS Managing Director.
NRD AS was represented jointly by the company itself and its sister company BAIP UAB working and developing the cyber-security expertise in the areas of East Africa as one team. Both companies are subsidiaries to BAIP Group, a group of companies that specialises in the field of critical information systems for governments and corporates.
During the visit in November a seminar on ’Practical and cost-effective ways of implementing cyber-defence strategy for information and IT infrastructure’ was held in the city of Dar es Salaam. NRD AS information security professionals Dr. Vilius Benetis and Mr. Augustas Gutautas shared lessons from European countries and presented security frameworks (the mindset) and their technical implementation details. This was followed by practical examples of how security technology simplifies IT management, ensures compliance, reduces risk and improves quality of IT services. Technology discussions covered the topics including but not limited to governance, risk and compliance (GRC), security incident management, vulnerability management, identity and access management, business continuity management, end point protection and digital forensics. It was concluded that cyber-security is a vital component part for the nation’s security, and in order to protect the most valuable assets of the country, a cyber-security framework is vital.
’NRD’s capacity to deliver services is composed by highly competent information security specialists. In the global war against cyber-crimes ISACA also relies on its professionals as their greatest asset. ‘That is why this international partnership with experts from NRD AS is very promising. Making the benefits of new technologies in the war against cyber-crimes available for private and public sectors, improving business environment in East Africa, and strengthening friendship between Norway, Tanzania and Lithuania, through BAIP, are just a few of the perspectives it offers. This will also be a step towards achieving one of the eight UN millennium development goals for Tanzania (‘Develop a global partnership for development’). It is internationally recognised that improvement of economic development to a large degree depends on private initiatives and investments. Therefore, we are very proud of this MoU’, – said Boniface Kanemba, ISACA Tanzania Chapter President.
Over the years since starting up in 1995, NRD AS has been engaged in designing, development and implementation of projects for reforming of business climate frameworks in approximately 40 countries throughout the world. An efficient business environment is internationally recognized as a prerequisite for private sector development. Furthermore, an environment supporting economic development represents a set of motivations and incentives for the formalization of businesses, fruitful expansion of the business community resulting in more jobs and positive economic development.
Even though during the years NRD AS has established a substantial resource base comprising a great number of eminent experts who possess broad and in-depth competence in building business enabling environments, Cyber Defense Planning is introduced to NRD’s profile in order to provide a full package to the clients. The need to develop cyber-security area has occurred due to the developments on both governmental and corporate levels. Without a secure and continuously working ICT environment it is impossible to maintain a fluently run country. Therefore cyber-security has become a priority for the governments, and, consequently, to the NRD AS. Cooperation with its sister company BAIP was the second incentive which lead to NRD AS and BAIP developing the cyber-security expertise together.
ISACA is an independent, nonprofit, global association, engaging in the development, adoption and use of globally accepted, industry-leading knowledge and practices for information systems. ISACA provides practical guidance, benchmarks and other effective tools for all enterprises that use information systems. Through its comprehensive guidance and services, ISACA defines the roles of information systems governance, security, audit and assurance professionals worldwide.
ISACA Tanzanian Chapter was formulated in March 2002 due to the need of raising awareness in the areas of IS auditing, security and control. Tanzania then became the fourth country in Africa to formulate the local chapter preceded by South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.
The initiative in Tanzania has been partially financed and supported by NORAD. Tanzania has been a prioritized co-operation partner for Norwegian aid since 1966. In 2011, Norway contributed 640 million NOK (111,76 million USD) in bilateral assistance to Tanzania, out of which the Economic Development and the Trade and Good Governance sectors received respectively 373 million NOK (65 million USD) and 51 million NOK (8,9 million USD).
NORAD has got programs to stimulate the development of the private sector in developing countries. The support that was allocated to NRD AS comes from a special support facility whereby NORAD works with Norwegian companies. Development cooperation takes place through a variety of support schemes. Each year, NORAD announces funding for research and institutional cooperation between Norwegian research institutions and research institutions in developing countries. NORAD is also responsible for providing support for international organizations.