Douala: Trust Systems schools companies on cyber resilience.

Paul Eric Nouthio: Manager & Senior Consultant at Trust Systems

Officials and partners of Trust Systems, an Information Technology, IT, consulting company have schooled some companies especially those in the banking and finance sector on the importance of attaining cyber resilience. This was during a meeting held recently at Akwa Palace hotel in Douala.



The event saw experts in technology from renowned international companies such as the International Business Machines Corporation, IBM - a multinational technology company, sharing expertise with attendees on tailored solutions to hacking, attacks by ransomwares and how cyber resilience is a possible antidote to loss of company data. 

While Trust Systems is specialised in helping banks, and other institutions secure data to gain cyber resilience and ensure continuity of their activities, IBM partners with developers to lead research in IT to make the world better.

Speaking to reporters, Paul Eric Nouthio, Manager and Senior Consultant at Trust Systems noted that many companies are facing some issues with their IT infrastructure and they don’t know how to address it. 

He said the situation of cyber-attacks increased since 2019 during COVID-19, though not officially communicated because companies fear to scare customers

“Notwithstanding, each day they have reports of such attacks especially companies which depends on IT. Our main objective is to have proven technology which will help them prepared in face of threats. When data is lost, companies can’t work, cyber resilience helps to recover data and restart work without delay," he said 

To the Nouthio, IT solution providers specialised in cyber security and business solutions need to be customised to fit local context and ensure continuity this is exactly what Trust System has tailored services for their partners, adapting systems to be more resilient in face of threats. 

“We want that our clients will gain awareness on new trends in technology, and be more resilient,” he added 

On his part, IBM’s Storage Sales Leader and expert in data security, Youssoupha N'Djaye, insisted that there is a wide range of difference between cyber security and cyber resilience. He said with cyber security achieving hundred percent safety is impossible. 

“Imagine, a company sets up all recommended cybersecurity measurements, firewalls, antivirus, two-factor authentication then one day, an employee clicked on a link in an email of phishing,” he said.

N'Djaye went on to add that: “Despite all the protections put in place, the systems are infiltrated by a ransomware that blocks all the data from the company. IT experts react quickly, but the damage is made: the servers are paralyzed, the data inaccessible, the backups are wrong and the activity of the company is completely stopped. Everything seemed secure, but business is stopped. This is where the crucial difference”.

Cyber security, he said, is the first line of defense, stating that it prevents intrusions, blocks attack and protects company’s systems. He said cyberattacks are constantly evolving, and no protection is foolproof. However, with Cyber Resilience despite attacks, companies have the he ability to bounce back. 

“When an incident occurs despite all protections, it is the resilience that allows you to continue to operate, quickly restore the data and limit damage. It is a plane B, but an essential one,” he said. 

IBM as well as Trust Systems has put in place defenders pack solutions to ensure restoration of data as fast as possible. 

According to N’Djaye, companies may not have the antidote to cyber attacks, but strategies based on international standards is their base solution for data protection. 

He concluded by saying that, though hackers always find a new way to hack, they make sure they are always on top of their game in face of hackers. 

He advices all users of technology to have immutable copies of data, have air gap to help isolate copies making them invisible to internally and externally have the possibility to scan to check if they are infected or not and most importantly have a restore mechanism.

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3341 of Friday January 17, 2025

 

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