Futurecasting Cape Town: Improving Cape Town’s Cyber-resilience

Conversations to visualise the future
Friday, 23 September 2022
10:00 – 11:30am

Register here

Cyber security is a critical issue, particularly for cities and local governments which are frequent targets. Recent evidence suggests that there has been an increase in cyber-attacks on local governments by ransomware with devastating effects. In 2021, Cape Town’s ports were affected by a cyber-threat and based on similar events in other cities, this risk will continue to increase. 

According to the World Economic Forum, cyber-attacks can have serious consequences for cities and their citizens. Many global cities including Cape Town are now working to build resilience against cyber-threats – known as cyber-resilience – with some creating new departments to address cyber-security. 

 Achieving cyber resilience requires a systematic approach that cuts across departments and includes ‘cyber-hygiene, cyber-risk management and cyber crisis management’ amongst others, says Spiros Fatouros, CEO of Marsh Africa “It’s not about if you will get attacked, it’s a matter of when it will happen, which makes it all the more surprising that organisations continue to take a siloed approach rather than looking at the risk from an enterprise-wide perspective.”

This Futurecasting webinar will address how Cape Town can learn from global cyber-security standards while tailoring responses to the city’s specific vulnerabilities. It will convene City officials as well as experts in the field to highlight practical measures both private and public sector can follow to build cyber-resilience.

Facilitator: Omeshnee Naidoo, Director: Information Systems and Technology, City of Cape Town

Panelists:

  • Itumeleng Makgati, Group Information Security Executive, Standard Bank
  • Alan Moon, Head: Business Continuity – Information Systems & Technology, City of Cape Town
  • Gabriella Razzano, Director, OpenUp
  • Hilton Arendse, Deputy Director-General: Centre for e-Innovation, Western Cape Government

The Futurecasting Cape Town series, convened by the City of Cape Town’s Resilience Department with support from the Western Cape Economic Development Partnership (EDP) provides an opportunity to model the future around critical issues facing Cape Town and influence decisions that will reflect shared values and drive innovation. The series underscores a key element of the City of Cape Town’s Resilience Strategy towards collaborative partnering with business to support resilience. Speakers from across sectors are invited to share insights and ideas for a common inclusive and resilient future.