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IT Teams in Nigeria Boosted Security Skills Amid Cyberattacks During COVID-19- Sophos Survey Shows
The result of recent survey by Sophos, a global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, tagged “The IT Security Team: 2021 and Beyond,” shows how increased security challenges during the pandemic offered IT teams a unique opportunity to build their cybersecurity expertise.
The vast majority of IT teams in Nigeria that faced a rise in cyberattacks (87%) and a heavier security workload (91%) over the course of 2020 strengthened their security skills and knowledge.
The report noted that despite the challenges created by the pandemic, 52% of the IT teams surveyed globally, said team morale increased during 2020.
The increase in cyberattacks during the pandemic impacted IT security skills across all industry sectors covered in the survey, including, at a global level, education (83%), retail (85%) and healthcare (80%).
The survey polled 5,400 IT decision makers in mid-sized organizations in 30 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Chester Wisniewski, principal research scientist, Sophos, said: “Around the world, 2020 was an unprecedented year for IT teams.
“IT professionals played a vital role in helping organizations to keep going despite the restrictions and limitations necessitated by COVID-19.
“Among other things, they enabled education institutions to move learning online, retailers to switch to online transactions, healthcare organizations to deliver digital services and care under incredibly tough circumstances, and ensured public entities could continue to provide essential services.
“Much of this will have been done at high speed, with limited equipment and resources available and while facing a rising tide of cyberattacks against the network, endpoints and employees. To say things were probably pretty stressful for most IT teams is an understatement.
“However, the survey shows that in many cases these challenges have created not just more highly skilled, but more motivated IT teams, ready to embrace an ambitious future. As a growing number of countries are able to start planning for life beyond pandemic restrictions, we have an excellent opportunity to implement new IT and security policies, adopt more secure modern tools to manage employees and operations beyond the IT perimeter, build expert teams that blend in-house and out-sourced talent, and introduce security platforms that combine intelligent automation with human threat hunting expertise. There is no going back. The future may be just as unprecedented as the past.”
The main findings of “The IT Security Team: 2021 and Beyond” global survey for Nigeria include:
· Demands on IT teams increased as technology became the key enabler for dispersed and digital organizations. Overall IT workload (excluding security) increased for 66% of IT teams, while 69% experienced an increase in cybersecurity workload
· Adversaries were quick to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the pandemic: 60% of IT teams overall reported an increase in the number of cyberattacks targeting their organization over the course of 2020
· The overall experience of 2020 enabled 82% of IT teams to build their cybersecurity skills and knowledge. It is likely that much of this professional development will have been informal on-the-job learning, acquired as teams tackled new technology and security demands, often under intense pressure and remote from their normal place of work
· Facing challenges together boosted team morale. IT team morale also improved for many teams. More than half (59%) of the IT teams surveyed said team morale increased over the course of 2020. Morale is also likely influenced by external and personal circumstances during the pandemic, such as local lockdowns, the inability to see family and other factors. Regardless, the findings suggest that a shared purpose, a sense of value and facing adversity together helped to bond and lift the spirits of IT teams
· The experiences of 2020 have fuelled ambitions for bigger IT teams and using advanced tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) in future technology strategies. Many organizations appear to have entered 2021 with plans to increase the size of both in-house and outsourced IT teams, and to embrace the potential of advanced tools and technologies. The survey found that 72% of IT teams anticipate an increase in in-house IT security staff by 2023, and 51% expect the number of outsourced IT security staff to grow over the same time frame. An overwhelming majority (94%) expect AI to help deal with the growing number of attacks and 93% with the complexity of attacks. This could be due in part to the fact that 47% of IT teams believe that cyberattacks are now too advanced for the in-house team to tackle on their own
The “IT Security Team: 2021 and Beyond” survey report is available in full on Sophos.com.
The IT Security Team: 2021 and Beyond survey was conducted by Vanson Bourne, an independent specialist in market research, in January and February 2021. The survey interviewed 5,400 IT decision makers in 30 countries, in the US, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Austria, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. All respondents were from organizations with between 100 and 5,000 employees.
IXPN, Nigeria’s leading Internet Exchange Point, is proud to announce a landmark achievement: crossing 1 Terabit per second (1Tbps) in aggregate peak domestic internet traffic for the first time.
This milestone signifies a major leap forward in developing Nigeria’s internet infrastructure and underscores the critical role of local internet infrastructure in driving economic growth, innovation, and connectivity for millions of Nigerians.
“This milestone is more than just a number. It’s a symbol of Nigeria’s digital maturity and our united strides towards becoming a tech-driven nation. By keeping local internet traffic within Nigeria, we reduce costs, improve speeds, and ensure our digital economy thrives with homegrown infrastructure.” said Muhammed Rudman the CEO of IXPN.
“Achieving 1 Tbps is a significant victory for Nigeria’s ICT ecosystem, a breakthrough for domestic internet traffic. It serves as a catalyst, enabling millions of Nigerians to enjoy faster, more affordable, and resilient internet connectivity.”
1 Terabit per second is a game-changer for Africa’s most populous country. To put it in perspective:
- Mega Video Calls: A speed of 1 Tbps can support over 1 million concurrent Zoom calls, allowing students, entrepreneurs, and professionals to connect and drive Nigeria’s digital revolution.
- Streaming Frenzy: With 1 Tbps, more than 200,000 people can stream HD Nollywood films or movies on Netflix simultaneously without any buffering or interruptions.
- Data Superpower: This speed enables the transfer of the entire contents of 50,000 smartphones—including photos, apps, and videos—in just one second.
For Nigeria, hitting this milestone means reducing reliance on international bandwidth, decreasing latency for local services, and strengthening our position as Africa’s digital heartbeat. This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a faster, more connected Nigeria.
This accomplishment goes beyond technical advancements; it has significant economic implications. By encouraging local traffic exchange, IXPN reduces dependency on international bandwidth, leading to:
- Significant Cost Savings: By utilizing local data exchange, Nigerian businesses can save millions of dollars annually on international bandwidth fees.
- Enhanced Speed and Connectivity: With reduced latency, users experience smoother streaming, gaming, and real-time services, enhancing their overall online experience.
- Increased Resilience: Strengthening Nigeria’s internet infrastructure protects against global disruptions, ensuring consistent access to vital services such as healthcare and education.
- Improved Efficiency: Optimizes digital services like fintech, edtech, e-commerce, and e-health, propelling innovation and growth in these sectors.
Surveys conducted among IXPN members over the years have shown a growing percentage of local internet traffic in Nigeria. A recent report indicates that some connected members can localize or domesticate up to 70% of their internet traffic through IXPN.
“As more content providers, ISPs, banks, and public institutions localize their traffic through the IXP, end users benefit directly,” added Raphael Iloka (Marketing Manager). “We’re not just routing data — we’re building the foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy.”
The 1 Tbps peak highlights the remarkable impact of collaboration among all stakeholders. This milestone is a significant achievement not only for IXPN, but for the entire ICT ecosystem. IXPN deeply appreciates the vital contributions of all stakeholders involved.
To our Members and Partners: Your trust and participation have been essential to our growth. Together, we have established a hub where networks can interconnect, innovate, and thrive.
To the Government and Regulators: We express our sincere appreciation to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for all its support over the years and its vision of a digitally inclusive Nigeria.
To our Team: We extend our gratitude to our engineers, network administrators, and all other staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to push boundaries.
To the Global Community: We are grateful to partner organizations like the Internet Society (ISOC). Your support and advocacy in domestic peering empower us all.
Reaching 1 Tbps is just the beginning. As data demands skyrocket with AI, IoT, 5G, and immersive technologies, IXPN is committed to staying ahead of the curve. Here’s how:
- Scaling Infrastructure: We are investing in advanced hardware and software to support multi-terabit capacities.
- Enhancing Resilience: We are strengthening our network to ensure uptime, security, and adaptability in an ever-changing digital landscape.
- Empowering Underserved Communities: We aim to expand our reach to rural areas, bridging the digital divide, and supporting agritech, edtech, and telehealth.
- Strengthening Africa’s Digital Sovereignty: Partnering with regional IXPs to keep Africa’s data on the continent.
On April 17, 2025, the atmosphere at Yudala Heights was electric with pride, hope, and inspiration as TD Africa, the leading tech distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa, celebrated the graduation of 400 young Nigerian women from its flagship TecHERdemy program.
Over the past six months, these incredible women immersed themselves in rigorous, hands-on training in Cybersecurity, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Software Development. They are now confidently stepping into the tech world, ready to make their mark.
The event brought together top voices in the industry, including Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of the Zinox Group, who commended the graduates for their resilience and brilliance. In his keynote speech, he shared a hopeful vision for Africa’s future, calling these young women “the pioneers of a new, inclusive era of tech leadership on the continent.”
Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa, also delivered a heartfelt message, urging the graduates to let their values guide them as they navigate their careers.
“Hold tightly to your values. Let integrity guide your work, let innovation fuel your dreams, and let your impact speak louder than your résumé,” she encouraged.
The ceremony was filled with emotion as graduates shared their personal stories of transformation. One of them, Yetunde Kayode, now a certified data scientist, summed it up beautifully: “This program changed my life. I’m walking away empowered, skilled, and deeply grateful to Mrs. Ekeh and the TecHERdemy team for believing in us.”
Fifteen exceptional participants were also honoured for their outstanding performance and leadership during the program, reminding everyone that excellence comes in many forms.
TecHERdemy, which launched in November 2024, was built with a simple but powerful mission: to equip young Nigerian women with globally relevant digital skills and open doors to a tech career. But what happened over those six months went beyond just skills; it sparked a movement.
This graduation wasn’t just the end of a program. It was the beginning of a brighter, more inclusive future for tech in Africa.
Nigerians have launched a class action lawsuit against MTN Nigeria, accusing the telecom giant of unexplained data usage and rapid depletion.
The controversy erupted after a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) showcased an individual’s interest in taking legal action, along with evidence of unusual data activity.
This post rallied many others to join the cause, sharing their own grievances and pledging support.
A Google Form was circulated to collect names of affected users, highlighting issues such as false data top-ups and excessive costs without value.
Comparisons to data usage and pricing in other countries only fueled the frustration, and numerous Nigerians expressed their determination to pursue justice.
Social media buzz amplified the issue, with mixed reactions ranging from encouragement to skepticism about the lawsuit’s potential impact.
Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has not yet released an official response to these allegations.
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