PREFACE This National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS) 2019 – 2024 aims to provide a national framework for ensuring secure, safe and resilient cyberspace, as well as fostering trust and confidence in cyberspace by Malawians. This has been achieved by describing the high level Strategic Goals and Specific Objectives that provide the basis of the nation’s direction with respect to cybersecurity, and establishes the Actions that need to be taken for each. It is a bold and ambitious approach to tackling the many threats our country faces in cyberspace. The Government recognizes its special responsibility to lead the national efforts in managing and mitigating cyber threats. The Strategy defines Malawi’s cybersecurity vision, key objectives, and ongoing commitment to support national priorities by encouraging ICT growth while aggressively protecting critical information infrastructures. Government is committed to the safety, security, and prosperity of our nation and its partners. In order to achieve this, cybersecurity is a key component in providing organizations and citizens with confidence in online and mobile transactions. Furthermore, foreign investment will be greatly encouraged and a broader set of trade opportunities within the global marketplace will be opened. Successful implementation of the Strategy will further enable Malawi to achieve its economic and societal goals. The formulation of this Strategy followed a participatory process that involved various stakeholders, including Government, private sector, the academia, development partners and the general public. As such, Government will also rely on these partners to implement this Strategy in the most efficient and effective way possible. The Government is committed to ensuring that the commitments set out in this Strategy are carried out and accurately monitored and regular reports are produced. As a Ministry responsible for ICTs, we are determined to see this Strategy implemented. I, therefore, call upon all stakeholders to work with Government to achieve the goals that have been set in this Strategy. Mr Francis Bisika SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION iii