Huawei Technologies has launched a new cyber security service called Ransomware Protection 2.0 in Kenya to protect public and private sectors from emerging technologies like cloud storage, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The service is expected to address the increasing ransomware attacks in Kenya, which have been on the rise in recent years, with the country recording 32.8 million attacks in the first half of 2022, according to a report by Kaspersky.

The CEO of Huawei Kenya, Gao Fei, emphasized the need to maintain a secure ICT environment to ensure the expansionary economic impact of ICT benefits the country. With the rapid growth of the ICT sector, it is vital to safeguard the systems of every business from malicious threats, such as ransomware, which disrupt day-to-day operations and incur financial costs.

Andrew Opiyo, the Director of ICT at the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, said that Kenya faces a significant threat from ransomware attacks, particularly with the acceleration of digital transformation and rapid data growth. The country is rolling out 25,000 Wi-Fi hotspots and digitizing government services, making it crucial to have robust cybersecurity protection in place.

Nearly 40% of public sector organizations and 68% of private sector organizations in Kenya use cloud storage services, and data is now a critical input driving the economy and society. Technology is everywhere, and businesses are looking for ways to collect data and make the most out of it.