Tshwane launches anti-cyber attack security centre
In December 2019, R53-million was stolen from the Tshwane municipality, meant for pension contributions, after the system was allegedly hacked and the cash transferred to different bank accounts.
Tshwane metro has launched an anti-cyber attack security operations centre (SOC) in the Pretoria CBD.
The centre was launched in conjunction with Take Note Information Technologies (Take Note IT), after the metro was defrauded R53-million meant for pension contributions.
The centre would operate 24/7 to detect and prevent cyber attacks and has been fitted with an incident response plan to act and resolve any threats.
The SOC would also co-ordinate and disseminate information on risks as well as implement follow-up strategies to prevent recurring incidents.
The centre aims to bring confidence among digital users, such as suppliers, service providers and residents who frequently use their personal data with the Tshwane metro.
In 2019, nine suspects were arrested for fraud, according to police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale.
“It is alleged that in December 2019, R53-million was stolen from the Tshwane municipality after the system was allegedly hacked. Cash was transferred to different bank accounts. The nine arrested suspects ranged in age from 23 to 60.”
Group head for shared services in Tshwane metro Musa Khumalo said the case was still ongoing.
“The incident was around payments intended for our own employees’ pension contributions.”
“Investigations will show us if there was collusion or weaknesses in the system.”
Khumalo said Tshwane was able to recover some money from some of the accounts used to disperse the funds.
“Where guilty parties are found, it will help the city recover more money.”
Khumalo said Tshwane was hit while still setting up its security operations centre in August 2019.
He said the SOC was not a response to that particular incident, “as outside of this incident we are trying to protect data privacy”.
The SOC, along with stakeholders aims to create security awareness among Tshwane employees, suppliers, businesses and residents.
“The Tshwane metro keeps personal records of millions of citizens, while we also receive billions in payments for services.
“Through the SOC, we plan to bring back confidence in consumers who give their personal data for payments and other reasons, to ensure them that their info is safe.”
Khumalo said the SOC would aim to tackle criminals who created identical websites such as Tshwane’s, to dupe job seekers, or municipal account payers into obtaining their information or money.
“The SOC will also help in assisting with hackers who go into the system and create a denial of services, whereby they stop people from accessing certain e-services, such as the buying of electricity.”
Khumalo said Tshwane was also adhering to the protection of personal information act to protect data subjects from security breaches, theft, and discrimination.
He said this initiative was a necessity as the municipality provided digital services to its residents and businesses alike.
Tshwane MMC responsible for corporate and shared services Sylvester Phokoje said the establishment of the SOC was critical due to the metro’s reliance on information technology in serving the business sector, residents and personnel.
“A threat is ever-present and for internal and external threats as the cyber environment is constantly changing and evolving.”
Phokoje said the SOC was in response to the urgent need to protect the metro’s digital assets with modern technologies and to enable residents a seamless experience in accessing the metro’s e-services.
He said the SOC was completed in December 2020.
“Having a SOC is an indicator to the city’s stakeholders, employees, residents and government that we take data security and privacy seriously.
“It is worthy to note that the SOC has successfully resolved over 4 000 cyber incidents. We’ve further resolved nearly 150 phishing incidents, providing our residents with some peace of mind and security,” Phokoje said.
He said Tshwane also boasted with a cyber centre of excellence for training youth on cyber security skills through the SOC.
Take Note IT CEO Mamela Luthuli said that in today’s digital age, security operation centres were becoming increasingly relevant as “hackers constantly sniff around Tshwane space”.
She said Take Note IT and Tshwane’s three-year partnership was an exciting moment as many avenues had opened for locals.
Luthuli said Take Note IT had created training opportunities to graduates, whereby 20 young people were already servicing the Tshwane metro.
She said there were about three to four million vacancies for cyber security globally and the city had introduced a home-grown solution that achieved to train youth and empower them with practical skills, further creating employment in the process.
Watch:
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
