A 3-day conference of information security experts to assess risks emanating from the use of information systems has begun in Accra yesterday.
The conference, organised by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), has brought together IT-related professionals from all three of ISACA’s chapters in Africa.
President of Accra Chapter of ISACA C.K Bruce said the Second IT Audit, Information Security and Risk Insights Africa, will also analyse the security measures put in place to check the pervasiveness of information systems.
“The use of information systems presents a lot of opportunities for unscrupulous people, and there is need for us as professionals to meet and share our experiences for each individual’s professional development,” Mr. Bruce said.
“The prevalence of cyber threats, hacking, and sophisticated forgery are all different risks that came with the implementation of information systems. That does not make the use of information systems bad entirely, as such risks are supposed to be effectively dealt with,” he added.
According to Mr. Bruce, “The conference intends to empower corporate entities to put in the right measures to ensure the risks that arise through the use of information systems are minimised using the right protective measures.”
The Deputy Communications Minister, Victoria Hammah, who opened the conference, said: “Information security and risks have assumed serious dimensions as organisations modernise their IT infrastructure through the adoption of latest technologies and concepts.”
Ms Hammah added that Government has put in place various plans to streamline the regulatory and enforcement regime for IT governance, ICT system security and management.
“Government recognises the critical dependence of many business processes on IT, and the need to keep up with ever-changing trends and also comply with the benefits of managing risks effectively,” she added.
“Institutions like ISACA must ensure they adopt and use globally accepted IT practices for operation and provide quality IT professional skills that are relevant to the capacity building of members to meet the challenging global economy,” she said.
ISACA is an independent, non-profit global association with a network of more than 100,000 professionals in 160 countries. As a professional body, its members engage in the development, adoption and use of globally accepted information systems practices.
By Richard Annerquaye ABBEY
