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Best Practices for Secure Cloud Infrastructure in Africa and the Global Digital Landscape

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As the world increasingly shifts towards digital transformation, organizations globally, including those in Africa, are rapidly adopting cloud technologies for their scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. While the cloud provides unmatched opportunities for innovation, it also introduces significant security challenges. Protecting sensitive data, maintaining compliance, and ensuring business continuity in the cloud have become top priorities for organizations operating across industries.

For businesses in Africa and beyond, implementing secure cloud infrastructures is crucial to mitigate the risks associated with cyber threats, data breaches, and system failures. As cloud adoption grows exponentially, it is essential that African organizations align their practices with global standards to safeguard digital assets and build trust with clients and stakeholders.

  1. Implement a Robust Identity and Access Management (IAM) System

Effective identity and access management (IAM) is the foundation of any secure cloud infrastructure. A robust IAM system ensures that only authorized users can access critical data and services. This is especially vital in regions like Africa, where the rise in cybercrime demands stronger security measures. The key IAM best practices include:

  • Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure users and applications have the minimum permissions necessary to perform their tasks. By restricting access to sensitive information, you minimize the potential attack surface.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use MFA for all user accounts to add an extra layer of security beyond traditional passwords. This is crucial in safeguarding cloud resources from unauthorized access.
  • Regular Access Audits: Continuous monitoring and regular reviews of user access help prevent misuse and ensure compliance with security protocols.
  1. Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit

Data protection is at the core of cloud security, and encryption is one of the most powerful tools available. Encrypting data both at rest (when stored) and in transit (when transferred over networks) ensures that sensitive information is shielded from unauthorized access.

  • Data at Rest Encryption: Cloud providers often encrypt stored data by default, but businesses should also implement additional encryption measures to ensure that even if data is compromised, it remains unreadable.
  • Data in Transit Encryption: Use strong encryption protocols, such as Transport Layer Security (TLS), to secure data while it is being transferred between systems. This prevents interception and tampering of data as it moves across networks.

As African countries begin to implement more data protection regulations like the Data Protection Act in Nigeria and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU, data encryption is not only a best practice, but a legal requirement.

  1. Leverage Cloud-Native Firewalls and Network Segmentation

Protecting your cloud environment from external and internal threats requires robust firewall systems and the careful segmentation of your network infrastructure.

  • Cloud-Native Firewalls: Use firewalls that are specifically designed for the cloud to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. These tools help to block malicious traffic and identify unusual behavior, ensuring that only legitimate users can access cloud resources.
  • Network Segmentation: Isolate critical infrastructure and sensitive data into separate virtual networks or subnets. By creating boundaries, you limit the impact of potential breaches and prevent attackers from moving freely within your cloud environment.

Network segmentation is particularly important in Africa, where many countries are working to enhance the cybersecurity posture of enterprises amidst growing threats.

  1. Automate Security Monitoring and Threat Detection

Given the dynamic nature of cloud environments, manual monitoring and security checks are no longer sufficient. Automation plays a critical role in real-time threat detection and response.

  • Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): Implement CSPM tools to automatically scan your cloud infrastructure for misconfigurations and policy violations. This allows you to continuously monitor your environment and prevent potential risks.
  • Automated Alerts: Setting up automated security alerts will notify your team of suspicious activities, such as abnormal login attempts, unauthorized access, or unusual data flows, allowing for faster response times.

Automation not only increases security but also reduces the burden on your IT team, enabling them to focus on more complex issues.

  1. Regularly Update and Patch Cloud Systems

The security of cloud infrastructures relies heavily on the timely application of patches and updates. Cloud services frequently update their platforms, but businesses must also ensure that their custom applications and virtual machines are regularly patched.

  • Patch Management: Implement a patch management system that automatically applies the latest security updates to all cloud-based systems, ensuring vulnerabilities are addressed before they can be exploited.
  • Automated Updates: Where possible, automate the update process to reduce human error and minimize the time between the release of security patches and their application.

In Africa, where organizations are often at risk of cyberattacks from malicious actors, this practice is essential to maintaining secure systems and avoiding costly breaches.

  1. Ensure Comprehensive Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans

While cloud providers generally offer high levels of redundancy and data replication, businesses must have their own backup and disaster recovery plans in place. This ensures that even in the event of a breach, failure, or data loss, organizations can quickly restore operations.

  • Regular Backups: Schedule frequent backups of critical data and store them securely in different geographic regions or availability zones. This ensures that data is not lost in case of a regional disaster or system failure.
  • Disaster Recovery (DR) Testing: Regularly test your DR processes to ensure that they work as expected and data can be restored quickly in the event of a failure.

Africa’s unique challenges, including power instability and limited internet access in some regions, make a comprehensive disaster recovery plan all the more crucial.

  1. Comply with Industry Regulations and Standards

Compliance with industry regulations and global standards is not just a legal requirement; it also provides a framework for securing cloud infrastructures. Organizations must adhere to relevant frameworks to ensure that their cloud services meet high standards for security, availability, and confidentiality.

  • GDPR: For businesses operating in or with the EU, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates strict security measures for handling personal data.
  • ISO/IEC 27001: This international standard sets out the criteria for an information security management system (ISMS), helping organizations establish a framework for managing sensitive company information.
  • SOC 2: Ensures that cloud providers meet high standards for security, availability, and confidentiality.

By complying with these standards, African businesses can demonstrate their commitment to securing sensitive data, helping to build trust with international partners and clients.

  1. Train Your Workforce and Promote Security Awareness

A cloud infrastructure is only as secure as the people managing it. Human error is often the root cause of security breaches, making regular training and awareness essential.

  • Security Training: Ensure that employees are trained on how to recognize phishing attacks, how to securely handle sensitive data, and how to follow best practices for cloud security.
  • Regular Awareness Campaigns: Continuous training and simulated security exercises will help reinforce security practices and reduce the likelihood of breaches caused by human error.

In Africa, where the tech talent pool is still developing, educating the workforce about cybersecurity is essential for building a sustainable and secure digital ecosystem.

Conclusion

As cloud adoption continues to rise in Africa and globally, securing cloud infrastructure remains one of the most critical challenges for organizations. By following best practices in identity management, data encryption, network segmentation, and compliance, organizations across Africa and beyond can protect themselves from evolving cyber threats and maintain the integrity of their systems.

The future of cloud security lies in adopting a proactive and holistic approach — one that leverages cutting-edge technologies, such as automation and AI, while adhering to global standards. By doing so, organizations can unlock the full potential of the cloud while safeguarding their data and maintaining trust with customers and stakeholders.

About the Author

Chidera Onuchukwu is a highly skilled Software Engineer, specializing in software security and cloud technologies. As one of the most well-recognized figures in Africa’s tech space, she has earned multiple awards for her work in shaping the cloud infrastructure and software security landscape. Her technical expertise has had a profound impact on enterprises across Africa, where she has helped improve the security of critical systems and enabled businesses to scale securely in the digital age.

Her contributions to the global tech community are widely recognized, and she continues to be a driving force behind the adoption of secure cloud practices both within Africa and globally. In addition to her technical accomplishments, Chidera is also an advocate for women, mentorship and education, striving to empower the next generation of African tech leaders and women.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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IFC, AfDB Collaborate with EbonyLife Media to Explore Supporting the African Film Industry to Drive Job Creation

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As part of their ongoing efforts to support the growth of Africa’s creative industries and drive job creation in the region, IFC and the African Development Bank have announced a collaboration with EbonyLife Media, Nigeria’s leading media company, to explore the conditions for the creation of a pan-African investment vehicle targeted at the region’s film sector.

The aim is to improve access to financing for productions that promote original African stories around the world. EbonyLife Media has built a reputation for bringing compelling African narratives to global audiences through innovative storytelling.

The company has produced some of the highest-grossing movies in the region and enjoys strategic collaborations with global media companies, including Sony Pictures Television, Westbrook Studios, Starz, Macro Film Studios and Idris Elba’s 22 Summers.

This effort is in line with IFC’s strategy to expand Africa’s creative industries, recognizing the sector’s potential to drive job creation – especially for youth – promote inclusive narratives, and stimulate economic growth across emerging markets.

Despite the growth of film production across the continent over the last few years, Africa’s film sector remains untapped. According to UNESCO, the sector currently supports approximately 5 million jobs and contributes $5 billion to the continent’s GDP.

However, the industry faces significant challenges that inhibit its growth potential, including persistent financing gaps, policy barriers and lack of a robust intellectual property regulatory framework and implementation, which results in up to 50 percent revenue loss to piracy by film producers in the region.

In this context, IFC, AfDB and Ebony Life are exploring ways in which they can crowd in more capital into African film productions and support the expansion of the film industry at scale in the continent, while working with governments to introduce protection of intellectual property and film incentives, essential to strengthen the economics of film production in the continent.

“Africa’s creative economy is a cultural asset and an engine for inclusive growth, youth employment, and global influence. Through this partnership, we aim to unlock new capital for the continent’s storytellers, helping them bring authentic African voices to international platforms while boosting job creation in one of the most dynamic sectors of the future,” said Dahlia Khalifa, Regional Director for Central Africa and Anglophone West Africa at IFC.

Ousmane Fall, The African Development Bank Group’s Director for Private Sector Operations, said: “This collaboration reflects the African Development Bank Group’s growing interest in creative industries as a growth sector supporting entrepreneurship and job creation for young people and women in Africa.

“By joining forces with EbonyLife, Nigeria’s premium media conglomerate, and IFC, a like-minded DFI institution, we are seeking to support the creation of a sustainable investment vehicle for film production in Africa”.

“This has been a long time coming. For nearly two years, I’ve been quietly laying the groundwork—defining and building an ecosystem designed to scale, to unlock opportunity, and to provide the vital capital African filmmakers need to create stories that resonate across borders and generations.

“Today, I am thrilled and deeply proud to welcome the IFC and AfDB on this journey. Together, we will identify ways in which we can catalyze a new era of African storytelling that can thrive on the global stage” said Mo Abudu, CEO, EbonyLife Media.

 


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Prioritising Security: The Bedrock of Stronger Workplace Collaboration in Nigeria

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By Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria

In Nigeria’s dynamic and often demanding business landscape, robust workplace collaboration is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for sustainable growth and resilience. As per a study, 86% of employees believe that a lack of collaboration can lead to workplace failures; its significance cannot be overstated. As enterprises in 2025 increasingly adopt digital tools to enhance teamwork, one critical foundation must support this transformation: unwavering security.

Today, the need to prioritise security goes far beyond protecting sensitive data. It is about fostering trust and laying a solid foundation upon which effective, innovative collaboration can thrive—especially in an era marked by ever-evolving cyber threats.

Security: The Hidden Pillar of Effective Collaboration

Collaboration flourishes in an environment grounded in confidence and safety. When employees trust that their tools are secure against the sophisticated cyber threats of 2025, they are more likely to share information freely and engage deeply. A secure environment nurtures the psychological safety required for open and meaningful contribution.

Conversely, environments that lack adequate security measures not only deter open collaboration but also expose businesses to data breaches, operational disruptions, and the erosion of client and stakeholder trust—risks no forward-thinking enterprise can afford.

Therefore, security must be treated as a core strategic priority rather than an afterthought. This involves implementing best practices such as strict data access controls based on the principle of least privilege and comprehensive data protection measures—encryption, vulnerability management, and safeguarding data at rest, in transit, and in use. Such a commitment becomes the foundation for enduring, high-performing collaboration.

Integrated Platforms: Enabling Secure, Seamless Collaboration

Striking the right balance between agile collaboration and stringent security requires a deliberate, policy-driven approach. Nigerian businesses should adopt integrated platforms where security is built into the very core of the solution. These platforms offer a unified environment for communication, project management, and data sharing—underpinned by a comprehensive data security policy that includes clear protocols for data handling, processing, and privacy.

Here, the value of an all-in-one, inherently secure software suite becomes evident. Solutions that are both affordable and designed with embedded security features empower businesses to protect critical data while facilitating efficient teamwork. Features like data classification, minimal storage of sensitive information, and built-in compliance tools ensure that security is always active—shielding organisations from complex modern threats.

Moreover, these platforms streamline communication and task management, reducing meetings considered ineffective. By providing coordination and information flow, they foster stronger collaboration and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s competitive market.

Building a Secure Future for Collaboration

The path to truly collaborative workplaces begins with an unshakable commitment to security. It is an investment that yields significant returns in the form of increased efficiency, stronger team cohesion, and increased stakeholder trust.

For business leaders, the mandate is clear: make security an integral, non-negotiable element of your collaboration strategy. Doing so not only protects your present operations from an increasingly hostile cyber landscape but also establishes a resilient foundation for future innovation and growth.

The future of work in Nigeria is undoubtedly collaborative. Its long-term, however, will be determined by how securely that collaboration is built and maintained.


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CCPT Dismisses Class Action Suit against MultiChoice over Tariff Hikes

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Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT) in Abuja has dismissed a class action suit filed by one Uche Diala and 961 other DStv and GOtv subscribers against MultiChoice Nigeria and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), citing lack of jurisdiction.

CCPT Dismisses Class Action Suit against MultiChoice over Tariff Hikes

The suit challenged MultiChoice’s subscription price increases in November 2023 and May 2024, which the claimants described as arbitrary, exploitative, and unfair.

Diala and others sought to reverse the hikes and compel the company to adopt a more flexible billing model, such as a pay-as-you-view system used in other countries like South Africa.

They also accused MultiChoice of price discrimination against Nigerian consumers.

MultiChoice, through its counsel, raised a preliminary objection, arguing that pricing decisions do not fall within the tribunal’s remit and that the suit was improperly filed as a class action without first seeking the tribunal’s leave.

In its ruling on Thursday, the tribunal’s three-member panel led by Justice Thomas Okosun held that the core issues raised, which were pricing and tariff regulation, fall under the exclusive purview of the executive branch, particularly the President, as stipulated under the Price Control Act.

“The issue of price regulation is a matter that falls within the exclusive purview of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Okosun stated.

While the tribunal acknowledged it holds both original and appellate jurisdiction under the FCCPC Act, it emphasized that such authority does not cover general price control unless abuse of market dominance is established—a point the claimants failed to prove.

On the procedural matter of filing a class action without prior approval, the tribunal noted that although it is ideal to obtain leave, failure to do so was not fatal in this instance since the claimants demonstrated a shared grievance and common interest.

Nonetheless, the tribunal upheld MultiChoice’s objection, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter.

“The preliminary objection of the first defendant succeeds,” the panel held. “This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction.”

This ruling follows a similar outcome on May 8, when a Federal High Court in Abuja upheld MultiChoice’s price increases after the company sued the FCCPC.

In that judgment, Justice James Omotoso declared that the FCCPC lacked the authority to fix or suspend subscription rates.


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