NAM-CSIRT’s Ongwediva masterclass strengthens cyber incident readiness

It is important for institutions to strengthen their readiness for cyber incidents, especially those incidents which are of a security threat nature.

This was the main message contained in the NAM-CISRT masterclass held at Ongwediva recently.

Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response Team (NAM-CSIRT), housed at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) hosted a One Day Masterclass on Cyber Incident Handling, Response and Crisis Communication on 14 October 2026, at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair on the margins of the ICT Summit.

The masterclass, held as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, brought together systems administrators, information security officers, communications practitioners and representatives from government offices, ministries and agencies, as well as the private sector, to strengthen their preparedness and response to cyber incidents.

Participants gained practical knowledge on cyber incident preparedness, detection, response coordination, crisis communication, recovery, and business continuity.

The programme also included a tabletop exercise that allowed participants to simulate real-world cyber incidents and explore how organisations can respond effectively during a crisis.

CRAN’s Chief Executive Officer and Head of NAM-CSIRT, Mrs. Emilia Nghikembua, emphasised that cybersecurity is no longer only a technical matter but also an organisational, economic and national security concern.

Mr Wenzel Kavaka, the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, said “Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, frequent and disruptive.”

Additionally, Mr Kavaka emphasised that, “Preparedness requires the involvement of organisational leadership, legal teams, communications practitioners, risk managers and technical personnel.”

He further stressed that effective communication is as important as the technical response when managing a cyber incident, and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening Namibia’s cybersecurity capabilities through collaboration among regulators, industry, academia, civil society and international partners.

Ms. Cornelia Shipindo, Executive of NAM-CSIRT, highlighted that, “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that requires technical expertise, leadership support and strategic communication.

“We cannot predict when a cyber incident will occur, but we can ensure that our organisations are ready to respond swiftly, communicate responsibly and recover effectively.”

Ms. Shipindo encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained, share lessons with their colleagues, and promote a culture of cyber resilience within their organisations.

In the photo: Participants of the NAM-CISRT masterclass at Ongwediva.