Data management in Africa, a matter of security

In Africa, only 2% of the data collected is stored on the continent. In recent years, African initiatives and start-ups have developed with the aim of reversing the trend. During the 4th edition of the Africa Cyber Forum, held in Abidjan in mid-April, discussions focused mainly on health data management and the challenges associated with securing personal information.

From our correspondent in Abidjan,

New information and communication technologies are essential every day. Our connected devices, such as computers and smartphones, produce large amounts of data. Once collected and processed, it helps governments and companies make efficient decisions.

But right now, Africa has very little local infrastructure. storage of your data. However, this is a matter of sovereignty, according to Alain Yao Kouadio, general manager of Kaydan Group, a company that invests in the field of data management.

“ You cannot have your data about the health of your population, about the consumption behavior of your population, etc., stored externally, he warns. You have no sovereignty over this, this data can be cut off from you at any time. The outside world will therefore make sharper decisions than you do, because you do not have your data on site and do not know how to process it on site. »

Anticipate possible attacks

In healthcare, these challenges are even greater given the sensitivity of certain information, especially in the medical field. “ Hacking is still happening in developed countries. Now that we are not yet so vulnerable, we must prepare. We must learn from others, learn from French hospitals that have been attacked and whose systems have been blocked », estimates Éric Djibo, CEO of the PISAM outpatient clinic in Abidjan. “ We really need to protect this data “he emphasizes.

Among the topics addressed during the 4th edition of the Cyber Africa Forum, the issue of data management was at the center of the discussions. The aim is to draw the attention of the authorities to the need to invest in this area. “ This is exactly the place where we can accelerate through this initiative », explains Franck Kié. It counts on public and private decision makers “ to really pay special attention to data management, to data security and to its exploitation. “For the professional you have to anticipate” Before we face a disaster, we need to pay even more special attention to it “.

The number of cyber attacks has more than doubled in the past five years, while the cost of cybercrime is also rising, with estimates reaching $10.5 trillion by 2025.

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