Cybersecurity And Data Governance In Public Sector Training Course: Building Resilient, Trusted, And Secure Digital Government Systems

Introduction

As governments increasingly rely on digital infrastructure to deliver services and manage sensitive data, the risks associated with cyber threats, data breaches, and poor governance have grown exponentially. The Cybersecurity and Data Governance in Public Sector Training Course equips public sector leaders, IT professionals, and policy experts with essential skills to protect public assets, ensure data integrity, and build citizen trust in digital systems.

This training course explores global best practices in public sector cybersecurity, legal and ethical responsibilities of data handling, and frameworks for building robust information governance. Participants will develop the capacity to identify risks, implement security controls, manage public data ethically, and ensure compliance with emerging regulations and standards—critical for any digital government initiative today.

Target Audience

• Government IT and cybersecurity officers
• Data protection officers and compliance managers
• Public policy and legal advisors
• Heads of e-government or digital transformation units
• Legislators and regulators overseeing data and ICT
• Internal auditors and risk management officials
• Development partners supporting digital governance

Course Objectives

• Understand key cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities in the public sector
• Implement security frameworks tailored to government systems
• Establish strong data governance and accountability structures
• Align data and cybersecurity practices with legal and regulatory standards
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with cloud and third-party services
• Ensure ethical data usage, protection, and privacy for citizens
• Build cross-agency response mechanisms for cyber incidents
• Develop public sector cyber awareness and training programs
• Strengthen resilience and trust in digital public services

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Cybersecurity in Government

• Cybersecurity landscape in the public sector
• Types of cyber threats and common vulnerabilities
• National and institutional security obligations
• Cybersecurity maturity models for governments
• Principles of cyber hygiene for public officials

Module 2: Designing a Secure Public Sector ICT Environment

• Network and infrastructure security principles
• Securing endpoints, cloud systems, and mobile devices
• Zero-trust architecture and identity management
• Security controls and intrusion detection systems
• Risk-based cybersecurity planning

Module 3: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks for Data Protection

• Global and regional data protection laws and standards
• Privacy principles and compliance mechanisms
• Roles of data controllers and processors in public service
• Drafting institutional data protection policies
• Regulatory reporting and breach notification

Module 4: Public Data Governance and Institutional Policies

• Principles of data stewardship and lifecycle management
• Data classification and handling procedures
• Access control and audit trail implementation
• Accountability frameworks for data quality and use
• Managing metadata and data documentation

Module 5: Cyber Risk Assessment and Incident Response Planning

• Identifying digital assets and threat vectors
• Cyber risk assessment frameworks and tools
• Developing and testing incident response plans
• Crisis communication and stakeholder engagement
• Learning from breaches and updating controls

Module 6: Cloud Security and Third-Party Risk Management

• Public sector migration to cloud environments
• Shared responsibility models and SLAs
• Vendor assessment and procurement due diligence
• Encryption and secure data storage practices
• Ensuring continuity and disaster recovery readiness

Module 7: Ethical Data Use and Public Trust

• Balancing innovation with privacy and rights
• Addressing bias and fairness in automated systems
• Transparency and consent in citizen data use
• Communicating policies to the public
• Building a culture of digital trust in government

Module 8: Cybersecurity Leadership and Capacity Building

• Creating national or institutional cybersecurity strategies
• Workforce development and training programs
• Establishing internal cybersecurity task forces
• Budgeting and advocating for cybersecurity investment
• Collaborating with national CERTs and global alliances

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.