As Africa’s digital landscape evolves, cloud services are spurring growth and innovation. Shalini Boodhooa, Alliance & Partnerships Manager at MTN, provides insight into cloud adoption, essential cybersecurity measures, and the effects of regulatory frameworks. She also addresses challenges women face in the ICT industry, such as gender bias and mentorship gaps, and assesses initiatives to support women in tech. Boodhooa highlights the crucial role of community and networking in enhancing support for women in the field.
How is the adoption of cloud services evolving in Africa, and what are the key cybersecurity measures necessary to protect data and ensure business continuity?
Adoption of Cloud Services: The adoption of cloud services in Africa is accelerating rapidly. Many African businesses are transitioning to cloud environments to leverage benefits such as cost efficiencies, scalability, and enhanced collaboration. For instance, a recent survey indicated that about 45% of workloads in major African businesses are now in the public cloud. This trend is driven by the need for digital transformation and the ability to leapfrog traditional infrastructure limitations.
To protect data and ensure business continuity, organizations should implement several key cybersecurity measures:
- Data Encryption: Encrypting data both at rest and in transit to prevent unauthorized access.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implementing MFA to add an extra layer of security to user accounts.
- Incident Response Plan: Developing and regularly updating an incident response plan to quickly address and mitigate the impact of cyber incidents.
- Employee Training: Conducting regular cybersecurity awareness training for employees to recognize and avoid potential threats as they are typically the ones handling sensitive company information.
How are current regulatory frameworks in Africa supporting or hindering the growth of cloud services and cybersecurity?
Supporting Growth: Several African countries are making strides in establishing regulatory frameworks that support cloud services and cybersecurity. For example, the African Union’s Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (Malabo Convention) aims to create a unified legal framework for data protection across the continent. Additionally, countries like Ghana and Mauritius have implemented comprehensive cybersecurity regulatory frameworks to align with global standards.
Hindering Growth: However, the regulatory landscape can also pose challenges. The diversity in regulations across different countries can create complexities for businesses operating in multiple regions. The lack of harmonization in data protection laws can lead to increased compliance costs and operational inefficiencies.
What specific challenges do women face in the ICT industry, including issues like gender bias and lack of mentorship, and how can these be overcome?
The tech industry, especially the Telecoms industry, can be daunting as it has heavily been perceived as a male-dominated industry. Women in the ICT industry often face gender bias and stereotyping, which can hinder their career progression. This includes assumptions about their technical abilities and leadership potential.
The lack of mentorship and role models is another significant challenge. Women often struggle to find mentors who can guide them through their career paths and provide support.
Overcoming Challenges:
- Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship programs that connect women with experienced professionals in the industry. Inspiring Fifty Africa or Africacom offers great programs that women in the tech industry can leverage on.
- Diversity & Inclusivity | Support Networks: Creating support networks and communities where women can share experiences and resources prioritizing diversity and inclusion initiatives to create a more equitable workplace culture.
What initiatives and programs are currently in place to encourage more women to pursue careers in ICT, and how effective have they been?
- Most OEMs and vendors like Microsoft, Google or AWS are embracing D&I initiatives to help close the gender gap as well and offer various free training on Cloud and Cybersecurity.
- International Girls in ICT Day: An annual event that inspires and encourages girls to pursue careers in ICT through mentorship and hands-on activities.
- African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI): A program that trains young women in digital literacy, programming, and work-readiness skills.
- Coding Workshops and Tech Camps: Various organizations offer coding workshops and tech camps specifically designed for girls to develop their technical skills.
These initiatives have been effective in raising awareness and providing opportunities for young women to enter the tech industry. However, continuous efforts are needed to sustain and expand these programs to reach more women across the African continent.
How important is community and networking in supporting women in tech, and what can be done to strengthen these networks?
Community and networking are crucial for supporting women in tech. They provide a sense of belonging, access to resources, and opportunities for mentorship and collaboration. Networking helps women build professional relationships, gain visibility, and find career opportunities.
Strengthening Networks:
- Professional Associations: Encouraging participation in professional associations and women-in-tech groups like Women in Tech Global.
- Mentorship Programs: Expanding mentorship programs to include more women mentors and mentees as part of HR imperatives for organizations
- Networking Events: Organizing regular networking events, both online and offline, to facilitate connections and knowledge sharing.
