Kenyan companies: Gov’t launches probe into major data breach

The Business Registration Service (BRS), is the sole custodian of a list of all companies and information for entities registered in Kenya.

Margaret Kalekye
2 Min Read
ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo
Highlights
  • The Ministry is collaborating with international cybersecurity agencies responsible for overseeing cyberspace governance to address and mitigate the issue effectively

A multi-agency team has been put in place to investigate a data breach affecting the register of companies in Kenya.

The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy on Monday sprang into action after being notified by the Kenya Business Registration Service (BRS) (BRS), which is the sole custodian of the register of all companies and entities in Kenya, about the incident, which resulted in data exfiltration.

“The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy was notified by the Kenya Business Registration Services (BRS) of a potential data breach affecting the register of companies in Kenya. Upon receiving this information, the Ministry promptly assembled a multiagency team to investigate the matter and prevent any further data exfiltration” ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said in a statement.

He further revealed that the Ministry is actively collaborating with international cybersecurity agencies responsible for overseeing cyberspace governance to address and mitigate the issue effectively.

Kabogo further assured all stakeholders that the security and integrity of government digital assets remain a top priority.

“As a precautionary measure, we have strengthened our security protocols to safeguard our systems and prevent future incidents.”

Call to Action

Given the increasing risks in the evolving digital landscape, the Ministry is appealing to individuals and businesses to take proactive steps to safeguard their personal and organizational data.

Some of the recommended safety measures include:

  • Regularly update passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where possible.
  • Be cautious about sharing sensitive personal information online.
  • Verify the authenticity of websites and emails to avoid falling victim to phishing attacks.
  • Ensure your devices have the latest security updates and antivirus software installed.
  • Regularly back up important data to secure locations.

Kenyans have been urged to stay informed and vigilant even as the Ministry, through its respective agencies, pledged to issue further guidance and advisories to assist the public in understanding best practices for data protection and privacy

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