As Rwanda embarks on a digitalisation journey, cyber-attacks are becoming an issue of concern, according to Bizoneer Consulting Rwanda-Africa Ltd, the largest cybersecurity service provider in the country.

The information technology company says that government and corporate entities need to boost their cyber security in order to respond to the cyber-attacks.

Bizoneer provides cyber security services to parastatal entities such as Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD), Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) and Irembo as well as corporate companies like MTN Rwanda, Bank of Kigali, Sanlam, among others.

The company also has customers in different East African countries, such as Kenya.

At an event held in Kigali between Bizoneer and representatives of its major customers on Friday, September 16, the company’s senior management said the local cyber infrastructure should be well protected from cyber hacking.

"With the growth of Rwanda in digitisation of services, through Irembo and other organizations with all the data accessible on the internet, we need to have some serious level of security across all layers,” said Suman Alla, Bizoneer’s CEO.

"As Bizoneer, we are trying to provide solutions and services that will help our customers protect their networks from different threats. The good thing in Rwanda is that the adaptability for change is quite impressive. Institutions appreciate the importance of information and cyber security and they try to look for the best services that can be brought to the country.”

As a reseller, Bizoneer is in partnership with EMT Distribution, a Dubai-based global cyber security distributor with operations in 11 countries covering half the planet. EMT is looking forward becoming one of the IT players in Rwanda.

"Rwanda is on digitalisation mode today, and it is on the forefront in adapting technology,” said Mir Hamid Ali, the Business Unit Head at EMT Distribution.

He added: "As cyber security is the need of the hour, Rwanda needs a security partner on their digitalisation journey who will secure there critical assets with best in breed technologies. As EMT, we would like to be that security partner. The reason we chose Kigali is because of the government’s vision of being the next technology hub of East Africa.”

Bizoneer started its operations in Rwanda in 2015. The Kigali-based IT firm has a diverse labour force made up of Rwandan as well as foreign engineers. It also provides training in information technology.