The latest iteration of the GÉANT Security Bootcamp was organised, under the auspices of the EU-cofunded AfricaConnect3 Project, for the UbuntuNet Alliance, the regional organisation that unites Eastern and Southern African National Research and Education Networks. This training event took place at the UbuntuNet Alliance Connect conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, at the end of October 2024. Over two days, the hands-on training brought together key representatives from the UbuntuNet Alliance and its member NRENs, including RENU (Uganda), SANReN and TENET (South Africa), and TERNET (Tanzania).
Engaging discussions and knowledge sharing
Under the invitation of UbuntuNet Alliance CEO, Prof. Madara Ogot, the bootcamp kicked off with an enthusiastic call to action. Prof. Ogot encouraged participants to “milk the trainers as much as possible,” setting the tone for an interactive and collaborative learning environment.
The agenda for the first day included sessions on security structure, strategy, and objectives, culminating in a presentation on risk management. Participants explored various implementations of security frameworks and reporting obligations, laying a solid foundation for the discussions that followed.
Focus on data protection and risk management
The second day began with a highly anticipated session on Data Protection Management, a topic that had been actively requested by the NRENs during preparatory online calls. This was followed by an interactive workshop on risk management, allowing participants to apply their knowledge in practical scenarios.
As the bootcamp concluded, discussions centred around assessment reports created in preparation for the event. The importance of ongoing interaction among security professionals was emphasised, with participants expressing a desire for follow-up sessions to assist in implementing their Information Security Management (ISM) strategies.
High satisfaction and future collaboration
Feedback from participants indicated a high level of satisfaction with the training. Siya Peter from SANReN commented: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for organising such engaging and informative security bootcamp sessions. I was impressed by how both sessions were presented: they were also packed with relevant activities and scenarios based on our environments”. He further suggested: “It would be wonderful if this security bootcamp workshop could become a permanent and mandatory session for all the NRENs attending conferences of UbuntuNet Alliance and GÉANT going forward. We greatly benefit from sessions like these, as they are incredibly helpful in organising and formulating responses to cyber threats.”
Isaac Newton Wobomba from RENU added: “The bootcamp was a transformative opportunity to assess and enhance the security maturity of RENU. The structured approach combining the GÉANT Security Baseline with hands-on training was invaluable. It provided us with actionable insights into improving our security strategy, from risk assessment to data protection, while also aligning our practices with international standards. We deeply appreciated the opportunity to connect with such an expert team from GÉANT and to be part of a collaborative environment dedicated to advancing cybersecurity for NRENs.”
Suleiman Yussuf from TERNET remarked: “The training went beyond just theoretical concepts, offering a real-world understanding of security leadership and decision-making. Additionally, I think that the clear and actionable roadmap provided by the security baseline report will be invaluable in guiding our security strategy.”
The GÉANT Security Bootcamp featured trainers ‘par excellence’ – Ana Alves, CISO for GÉANT, and Michel Gerdes from DFN-CERT. They said: “First of all, we would like to thank Prof. Madara Ogot, UbuntuNet Alliance CEO, Dr. Frank P. Seth, TERNET CEO for inviting us and Mr. Eliakim Ukundi, for facilitating the training and setting up the facilities. The success of our bootcamp underlines the critical need for continuous professional development in cybersecurity, ensuring that NRENs are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of an ever-evolving digital landscape. This bootcamp not only served as a platform for learning, but also reinforced the importance of collaboration among NRENs in Africa, paving the way for a more secure future in research and education.”
