Investigating the Cybersecurity Aspects of the Liberian Government's Network (GovNet) as a Critical National Infrastructure

Abstract

One of the most critical national infrastructures (CNIs) in Liberia on which critical e-government services are dependent is GovNet. GovNet is the acronym for Government of Liberia’s (GoL’s) Network, and it is the conduit for connectivity and gateway to the internet for all of the Government’s over 107 Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs), as well as its e-government programs. Most of the MACs connected to GovNet run siloed ICT environments with little or no cybersecurity mechanisms in place. This paper is an investigation conducted at six MACs that are members of GovNet. The investigation identified several cybersecurity deficiencies at those MACs, due to the absence of vital dimensions or pre-requirements of cybersecurity readiness including the infrastructure (digital infrastructure), capacity (education and skills) and, governance (legal and regulatory instruments). The investigation examines previous and extant literature, conducted interviews with stakeholders of GovNet, and leverages the vast experiences of the author, who is the immediate past Managing Director of LIBTELCO. Recommendations are made for the necessary actions to be taken to remedy those deficiencies in GovNet, and the study’s contribution to the body of knowledge is indicated in the Conclusion.