Mr Christopher Ugbebor, a software engineer, has urged businesses to invest in security controls, employee training and continuous system improvement to curb cyber threats and protect their operations, data and reputation.
Ugbebor made the call in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja, noting that cybersecurity has become a strategic business issue requiring a comprehensive and proactive approach.
He said the rising rate of cyber-attacks was a wake-up call for organizations to take decisive action to safeguard their digital assets.
According to him, effectively addressing cybersecurity challenges requires a combination of technology, people and processes.
“As organizations increasingly rely on digital platforms to run operations, manage customer relationships and store sensitive information, cybersecurity has become a critical business risk rather than a purely technical concern.
“Cyber threats now pose direct financial, operational, legal and reputational risks to businesses of all sizes,” he said.
Ugbebor advised organizations to implement robust technical safeguards, including firewalls, antivirus software, intrusion detection systems and secure network configurations.
He also stressed the need to enforce strong password policies and multi-factor authentication across all systems to reduce unauthorised access.
“Sensitive data should be encrypted both at rest and in transit, while access to critical information must be restricted based on job roles. Regular security audits should also be conducted.
“Compliance with relevant data protection regulations should be treated as a business priority, not merely a legal obligation,” he said.
Ugbebor further called for regular cybersecurity awareness training for staff, noting that employees should be educated on identifying phishing attempts, handling sensitive information securely and complying with organizational security policies.
He said a well-informed workforce significantly reduces the likelihood of successful cyber-attacks.
The software engineer added that continuous system monitoring and timely updates are essential, urging organizations to prioritize software patch management and routine vulnerability assessments.
“Continuous monitoring of systems and networks helps detect threats early and minimizes the impact of security incidents.
“Clear access control policies should be established to ensure employees only access information necessary for their roles, while user activities should be monitored and reinforced through strong governance, ethical standards and accountability,” he said.
