Information Security Management: A South African Public Sector Perspective

Background

Cyber-attacks are an international and local reality, therefore, it is essential that management accept that threat actors are moving towards espionage, crime and intentional disruptions of their networks and systems. Management and government leaders must acknowledge this reality and institute measures to curb threats and attacks (Ross, 2014, p. 4). As new technology is introduced universally, timely, and easy access to government networks and services will be essential to ensure good quality and complete information. Technology in the digital age will continue to drive organisations, creating information security concerns for management and the designated information technology staff (TraceSecurity, 2012, p. 1). Government departments are under excessive strain to protect their networks and systems from cyber-threats a result of new modernizing technology to render better services to the public (Govloop, 2014, p. 10). An insider or external threat or attack can disrupt government services and critical infrastructure operations. Therefore, government departments need to be resilient against these potential threats and attacks. Also, government departments are already part of the interconnected world of technologies and other organisations and will continue to be vulnerable to threats and attacks by cyber-criminals (Ixia, 2014, p. 4).