National Cyber Drill 2024

The Department of Information Communication Technology (DICT), in collaboration with the CERT-MU based in Mauritius organized a second National Cyber drill in July 2024 with the purpose of testing and assessing the preparedness of various IT professionals from public and private sectors within the country. The drill consisted of multiple simulations depicting various cyber attack scenarios that can inherently pose a threat to the Critical Information Infrastructure (CIIs) in Seychelles.

In the opening speech, the Principal Secretary of DICT, Mr. Benjamin Choppy emphasized the need to maintain vigilance and readiness in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats. The exercises aim to simulate real-world cyber threats, to in turn help identify weaknesses in our defenses, improve the coordination among responder teams and overall enhance preparedness against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. PS Choppy also stated that a successful cyber attack can have a severe impact on our country, highlighting the importance of safeguarding our CIIs.

Dr. Kaleem Usmani, Head of CERT-MU, explained the importance of such simulated exercises, using ransomware as an example of a highly complex and sophisticated cyber-attack. Such an attack can cripple CIIs for days or even months. He also mentioned that the exercises will not only cover ransomware but also other types of cyber-attacks, including malware and phishing. The aim is to ensure that, after the drills, IT professionals gain a better understanding of the threats and become more familiar with the solutions and countermeasures, helping them build greater resilience in responding to such incidents.