WACREN 2026 Session II - Strengthening Cybersecurity

As Africa accelerates its digital transformation, higher education and research institutions remain prime targets for cyber threats — from ransomware attacks and network intrusions to data breaches affecting students, researchers, and national systems. The growing complexity of threats requires more than isolated technical fixes; it demands collaboration, intelligence-driven infrastructure, and shared regional capacity. This session examines how NRENs, universities, national CSIRTs, and continental partners can work together to build resilient cybersecurity ecosystems powered by intelligent monitoring, secure digital identity, advanced threat intelligence, and coordinated incident response. Through shared infrastructure and community governance, the region can strengthen digital trust and safeguard the future of education and research.

At the end of the session, participants will:

• learn how to leverage the TrustBroker Africa registry and training modules to formalise their institution's incident response capabilities and upskill their technical teams.
• will discover how to utilise the ISAC threat intelligence platform to identify specific regional trends, allowing them to shift from reactive troubleshooting to data-driven, proactive security planning.
• will appreciate the need to engage directly with peers from other NRENs and national CSIRTs to establish the communication channels and "shared infrastructure" necessary for coordinated defense during a real-world cyber crisis.