FirstBank celebrates Cybersecurity Awareness Month

FirstBank Ghana has joined in the 2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global initiative, with a series of programmes aimed at raising awareness among staff, customers and partners.

It was on the theme: "Secure our world."

As part of the celebration, the bank also hosted a webinar and rolled out interactive training sessions, real-world simulations, and practical tips on strengthening defences against cyber attacks.

The campaign also focused on encouraging best practices for cyber hygiene, such as adopting strong password policies, enabling multifactor authentication (MFA), identifying and reporting phishing emails, and ensuring regular updates through patch management to maintain the integrity and security of the bank's digital assets.

Throughout October, the bank will engage its staff through hands-on training and real-time scenarios to equip them with the skills to enable them to identify and mitigate cyber risks.

Event

Speaking at a Webinar on the topic, “Secure our world: Misinformation and disinformation”, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Victor Yaw Asante, said safety of financial systems and the security of customers' assets were the priority of the bank.

He said cyber threats posed a significant risk to those values and had the potential to disrupt operations, cause financial losses and lead to reputational damages.

Mr Asante said that the bank’s participation in the campaign highlighted the vital role “each of us play in protecting the bank’s digital infrastructure”.

“By adopting strong cybersecurity practices, we are safeguarding our organisation’s financial future and that of our clients," he added.

The Group Chief Information Security Officer at the bank, Dr Harrison Nnaji, said the financial sector was one of the industries cyber criminals targeted most.

“To stay ahead, we must constantly innovate and evolve our security strategies. FirstBank's participation in the awareness month is a testament to our dedication to protecting our digital assets and ensuring the safety of our customers' financial information," he said.

The Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer of the bank, Ikemefula Nwagwu, said: "Data fuels our digital age, and information can either set us apart or bring us down.

“As new threats emerge daily, it's our duty to think critically, stay informed and be cyber smart to outsmart the threats and secure our world," the officer said.

A consultant at Innovare, Prince Adu, emphasised the importance of continuous education, saying "cybersecurity is not a one-time event, it is an ongoing process of learning, adapting and applying best practices”. 

Advice

Banking Operations, Risk and Cyber Security Executive at the Ghana Association of Banks, Audrey Mnisi Mireku, advised players in the banking industry to remain vigilant and proactive, while continuously adapting to evolving threats.

She said FirstBank's commitment to education and practical cybersecurity measures was a crucial step in fortifying the sector against potential breaches.

FirstBank Ghana is a subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria Limited. The FirstBank brand is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. First Bank of Nigeria is the parent of FirstBank UK, FirstBank DRC, FirstBank Guinea, FirstBank Sierra Leone, FirstBank Gambia, FBNBank Senegal and FirstBank Ghana.