Regional Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, and damage. It encompasses a range of technologies, processes, and practices designed to safeguard digital infrastructure, ensure data integrity, and protect user privacy. In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity is critical for fostering trust in digital systems, enabling economic growth, and ensuring the resilience of national and regional economies.
In the EAC region, the rapid adoption of digital technologies, including mobile banking, e-commerce, and e-government services, has amplified the importance of cybersecurity. However, the region faces significant challenges in building robust cybersecurity frameworks, which are essential for protecting its growing digital economy and ensuring the safe flow of cross-border data.
Current Status
- Data Protection Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
A thriving digital market relies on frameworks that allow data to move securely, seamlessly, and cost-effectively across borders. This is essential for trade in digital services and for building trust in digital systems. While some EAC Partner States have made progress and enacted data protection laws to regulate the collection, storage, and transfer of personal data, others lag behind in data governance and protection. Such fragmentation makes cross-border data exchange difficult, posing enforcement challenges and weak cyber resilience.
- Cybersecurity Preparedness
The region’s cybersecurity preparedness is uneven, with some Partner States ranking above the global average, while others lag behind. Some countries lack comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, leaving them vulnerable to cyber threats such as ransomware, phishing, and financial fraud.
- Cybersecurity Infrastructure & Regional Collaboration Mechanism
The region faces significant gaps in cybersecurity infrastructure, exacerbated by a lack of collaboration and information sharing mechanism among Partner States. Limited investment in secure data centers, Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), and advanced threat detection systems leaves the region vulnerable to cyber threats. The absence of a regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and coordinated cybersecurity information sharing frameworks further weakens the region’s ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate cyber incidents effectively. Many countries rely on international facilities for data storage, increasing costs and security risks. While private sector involvement is growing, it remains fragmented and insufficient to address the region’s evolving cybersecurity needs. A coordinated, regional approach is essential to strengthen cybersecurity resilience and safeguard digital ecosystems.
- Awareness and Capacity Building
Cybersecurity awareness and technical expertise remain low across the region, leaving businesses, governments, and individuals vulnerable to cyber threats. While some governments and private sector actors are scaling up investments in training programs, these efforts lack coordination and widespread accessibility, limiting their impact. The persistent shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals further weakens the region’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber incidents effectively. To bridge this gap, the EAC is working towards developing comprehensive, regionally coordinated capacity-building initiatives, industry-academic partnerships, and incentives to attract and retain cybersecurity talent.