CSA urges Ghanaian universities to strengthen cyber protection measures 

The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has called on Ghanaian universities and operators of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) to strengthen their cybersecurity systems in response to increasing global cyber threats.

This follows a recent cyber-attack on the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, which reportedly exposed sensitive data belonging to hundreds of thousands of students and alumni.

The breach is reported to have affected approximately 450,000 individuals, exposing personal and financial information, including student records and contact details.

The Authority says the incident highlights the vulnerability of even highly advanced educational institutions to cybercrime and data breaches.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 16, the CSA said, “The University of Nottingham incident should serve as a reminder that no educational institution, regardless of its size, reputation, or technological sophistication, is immune to cyber threats.”

The CSA noted that Ghana’s rapidly digitising education sector, including online learning systems, cloud platforms and digital payment solutions, has significantly expanded exposure to cyber risks.

It stressed that while even though digital transformation improves efficiency, it also increases the attack surface available to cybercriminals targeting critical systems.

“The question is therefore not whether Ghanaian universities or other critical sectors will be attacked, but whether they are sufficiently prepared when an attack occurs,” the statement noted.

The Authority further reminded operators of Critical Information Infrastructure to strictly adhere to the CII Directive launched in October 2021.

The Directive requires institutions to implement cybersecurity governance structures, conduct risk assessments, apply security controls, report incidents and maintain robust incident response systems.

The CSA said compliance is essential to protecting national digital infrastructure and safeguarding sensitive data across key sectors such as education, health, telecommunications and transport.