Article Preview
TopIntroduction
With the proliferation of technology and networked devices through all scopes of life, cybersecurity awareness is becoming a more prominent driver in the positioning of National Security within a country. This article investigates the influence of cybersecurity awareness levels as driver towards National Security, based on a South African case study. The research is investigative in nature and aims to identify any connections between the level of cybersecurity awareness of different citizen groups as impacting the level of National Security within that group.
In South Africa, cybersecurity has been identified as a critical component, as noted by Palesa Legose, Director of Cybersecurity at the South African Department of Communications: “The government views cyber crime in a serious light, and therefore aims to launch an awareness programme and establish a National Cybersecurity Advisory Council (NCAC) in collaboration with the private sector, to step up the fight against cyber crime” (BiztechAfrica, 2012b). The importance of cybersecurity with regard to National Security is corroborated by Stella T Ndabeni, South African Communications Deputy Minister: “The Internet has also attracted illicit activities, commonly referred to as cyber crimes, which, in some cases, cannot only be detrimental to individuals, but [are] also capable of causing massive disruptions of economies of nations” (Moyo & Kayle, 2012).
Especially in Africa, rural communities are becoming integrated into the global village at a fast pace. This is in part due to increased hardware and software corporate donations from global organisations, but is also supported by the proliferation of web enabled mobile devices and government programmes aimed at bridging the digital divide through major broadband expansion projects. Comprehensive research conducted by the authors show that many of the new Internet users are not aptly trained to protect themselves against online threats, leaving them vulnerable to online exploits and inherently exposing the national system to potential international cyber attacks. This research will form the foundation of this study with the premise that cybersecurity awareness is an active driver towards National Security.