Facing rising cyber threats, Cameroon upgrades its national cyber defense systems 🇨🇲 🛡️

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On January 20, Cameroon’s National Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ANTIC) received a new set of cybersecurity equipment aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to detect and respond to cyber threats. The initiative is part of the World Bank–funded PATNUC project and supports Cameroon’s broader push toward a safer, more resilient digital economy.

Securing the national digital space 🌐

During an official handover ceremony, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications delivered the new cybersecurity infrastructure to ANTIC. The equipment is dedicated to Cameroon’s national Computer Incident Response Team (CIRT), a specialized unit responsible for monitoring, preventing, and managing cyber incidents affecting the country’s digital ecosystem.

The new infrastructure includes high-performance servers, storage systems, workstations, and platforms designed for vulnerability analysis and penetration testing. Digital forensics tools have also been added to the setup. Together, these resources are expected to improve threat anticipation and enable faster, more effective responses when attacks occur.

According to ANTIC, the technologies will significantly enhance intrusion detection and prevention systems, particularly for critical national infrastructure. They are also expected to strengthen analytical capabilities in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.

PATNUC at the core of Cameroon’s digital strategy 📊

The acquisition falls under the Project for the Acceleration of Cameroon’s Digital Transformation, known as PATNUC. Led by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications with support from the World Bank, the program aims to modernize the country’s digital ecosystem.

PATNUC focuses on expanding digital inclusion, strengthening online public services, and developing technological infrastructure. Cybersecurity plays a central role in this strategy, as it underpins trust among citizens, businesses, and investors in digital services.

At the launch ceremony, Minister Libom Li Likeng emphasized the importance of a secure digital environment to support the growth of Cameroon’s digital economy. She urged ANTIC to ensure the tools are used rigorously and responsibly, with the goal of maintaining a reliable and attractive cyberspace.

Responding to a sharp rise in cyber threats ⚠️

Figures released by ANTIC highlight the scale of the challenges facing the national CIRT. Every day, the unit collects and analyzes around 200 gigabytes of data and processes nearly 200 urgent legal requests from institutions across the country.

In 2025 alone, more than 32,500 legal requests were handled—an increase of 30% compared to the previous year. Since January 2024, over 8,500 vulnerabilities have been identified through security audits conducted in both public and private organizations.

The CIRT has also produced more than 200 digital evidence authentication reports at the request of judicial authorities. At the same time, nearly 8,500 fake online accounts were detected, with over 6,400 removed through cooperation with platforms such as Facebook and TikTok.

According to ANTIC’s Director General, Professor Ebot Ebot Enaw, the new equipment will significantly strengthen the agency’s long-term operational capabilities and enable a more robust fight against cybercrime—an ever-evolving threat landscape.

Toward a safer cyberspace for the digital economy 🔐

Beyond incident response, strengthening the CIRT is intended to build trust in digital usage across Cameroon. Securing data, online services, and critical infrastructure has become essential to supporting the digital transformation of public administration, businesses, and financial services.

With an investment exceeding 735 million CFA francs, Cameroon is signaling its determination to equip itself with the tools needed to confront cyber threats. A secure digital environment is now seen as a prerequisite for sustainable digital growth and innovation.

👉🏾 Do you think this new equipment will be enough to strengthen cybersecurity in Cameroon in the long term?