Building Digital Resilience for HRDs: Strengthening Cyber Security and Protecting Digital Rights

From everyday operational tasks to advocacy campaigns, digital tools are indispensable but inevitably come with digital threats.?

Addressing digital security concerns is no longer sufficient. We need? a more robust and sustainable approach – one that not only safeguards our digital assets but also fortifies resilience to adversity and upholds fundamental digital rights.?

Digital Resilience

Digital resilience encompasses a comprehensive approach for both organisations and individuals to sustain their technology-dependent operations, reinforce defences against cyber attacks, mitigate the impact of malicious activities, should they occur, and ensure their capacity to swiftly recover from disruptions.?

Common Cyber Threats Faced By HRDs

Internet Shutdowns: In 2022, there was a significant increase in internet shutdowns globally. In Africa,? 7 countries imposed this harsh measure 9 times. Uganda, for example, has blocked access to Facebook for over 990 consecutive days, underscoring the persistent and widespread limitations on digital communication.

Data Breaches: State and non-state actors target CSOs, aiming to monitor, intimidate, or disrupt their activities.?

Social Engineering: Cybercrime has evolved to exploit human vulnerabilities, using tactics like phishing, pretexting, or impersonation to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data. Service oriented NGOs are particularly susceptible to these manipulative techniques.

To cultivate a robust framework of digital resilience, strict attention should be placed on these key components;?

Comprehensive and regular risk assessments:? By understanding the specific risks they are exposed to, organisations and individuals can take proactive measures to mitigate these risks and enhance their overall cybersecurity.

Creating an Incident Response Plan: A step-by-step guide on how to handle different types of incidents and effectively managing any potential damage or disruption caused by such incidents.

Staff Training: This may include educating employees about data protection, and safe online practices.?

Collaborating with government agencies and private businesses:Through knowledge sharing, creating a supportive legal framework for digital safety, promoting human-centred tech innovations, and collectively securing a resilient digital environment.

Digital Rights: Increased access to the internet and the establishment of robust legal frameworks are essential for safeguarding user rights, individual privacy, and governing the responsible collection and use of data.

Empowering HRDs for Digital Resilience

Our specialised Digital Security Clinic provides tailored training and technical support. We also engage in policy advocacy by collaborating with key authorities like National Information Technology Authority-Uganda (NITA-U)? to inform legislation like the Data Protection and Privacy Act.

To thrive in the ever-changing tech landscape, HRDs need more than just improved digital security. They must nurture digital resilience, which involves not only enhancing security measures but also creating a supportive online environment that protects digital rights, such as access, free expression, participation, and data privacy.