‘Systems audit key to prevent hacking’ - Ato Sarpong

The Deputy Communications Minister, Ato Sarpong, has directed companies in the country to undertake regular systems audit on their various servers and websites in order to have an effective management information systems, as well as thwart the activities of hackers.

According to Ato Sarpong, constant checks on web servers helps organizations manage risk, meet customer and societal demand, and satisfy legislative requirements.

The business management systems is the way that successful organizations meet these challenges and ensure they set out principled programmes of change and improvement to address risk and opportunity.

He made this call following a cyber attack on the electronic portal of the Government of Ghana by hackers. The presidency website, the Government of Ghana website (ghana.gov.gh) and the ministries of communications, local government, trade and foreign affairs, were all targeted by the hackers.

Subsequently, the deputy minister disclosed that the government has taken control of the website and that they would be convening a meeting with professionals and experts in the industry to help strengthen the system “since it was a warning to not only government, but all of us,” he said.

Audits are mostly conducted by an organization’s own workforce and mainly directed at improving the management system, and checking compliance of the organization’s employee’s work practices and procedures.