Information is a critical asset of the government and citizens and as more of this information is converted into digital formats, it has become imperative that the Government of Kenya implements a sound operational information security policy to protect its information assets.

“Information security” means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification and destruction. It means to secure your information or data from hackers or unknown persons who have limited access to information  including, those measures necessary to detect, document, and counter such threats.

The first stakeholder workshop for the public sector information security policy was held today the 13th of October, 2016 at the Intercontinental hotel in Nairobi to deliberate on information security key concepts, standards, guidelines and practice and the role of the government, IT professionals and the citizenry in the management of information security.

Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunication Sammy Itemere reiterated the government’s great effort in developing the ICT sector and acknowledged that management of data in a secure environment would improve IT governance in Kenya and align it with strategic government goals.

Public sector information policy should be benchmarked in the evolving nature of ICT and its role while ensuring a secure government. He encouraged participants of this workshop who were from the government, public and private sector to read the policy framework critically and help in improving it while upholding the positive elements in the policy.

Policy development is a continuous process and all stakeholders were urged to ensure full participation, sensitization of the public, creation of awareness and effective implementation of the policy to meet the needs of the public sector as well as all Kenyans. The policy has been developed to serve the operational policy, rather than the strategic needs of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies since it was felt that this is the area where there is a gap. The Government of Kenya Cyber security Master Plan serves the national strategic goals very well.