Introduction

As public institutions increasingly digitize their operations and services, the risk of cyber threats and data breaches has escalated. Governments must not only invest in digital transformation but also establish strong frameworks to manage and respond to cybersecurity incidents effectively. This Public Sector Cybersecurity Incident Response Training Course equips professionals with the essential skills to detect, mitigate, and recover from cyber attacks with agility and confidence.

Participants will gain practical strategies for establishing and executing incident response plans tailored to the public sector, ensuring continuity of services and protection of sensitive information. The training also explores regulatory compliance, threat intelligence, forensic analysis, and inter-agency collaboration to strengthen national cyber resilience.

Target Audience

• Government IT and cybersecurity professionals
• Digital transformation officers in public agencies
• Heads of information systems and technology units
• Data protection and privacy compliance officers
• Crisis management and emergency response teams
• Public service regulatory and audit bodies
• National cyber defense and policy teams

Course Objectives

• Understand the cybersecurity threat landscape affecting public institutions
• Establish effective incident response frameworks and protocols
• Identify and analyze cybersecurity vulnerabilities and attacks
• Implement early detection, containment, and recovery mechanisms
• Ensure compliance with national and international cyber regulations
• Coordinate inter-agency communication during cyber incidents
• Utilize digital forensics and investigation best practices
• Maintain business continuity through cyber crisis planning
• Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness within the public sector

Duration

5 Days

Course Outline

Module 1: Cybersecurity Fundamentals for the Public Sector

• Overview of common cyber threats facing government systems
• Public service vulnerabilities and exposure
• Threat actors and motivations
• Key cybersecurity concepts and terminology
• Risk-based approaches to public IT security

Module 2: Developing Cybersecurity Incident Response Plans

• Phases of incident response: preparation to recovery
• Roles and responsibilities of incident response teams
• Building an incident response policy
• Response plan templates and customizations
• Testing and updating response frameworks

Module 3: Detection and Analysis of Cyber Incidents

• Indicators of compromise in public systems
• Real-time monitoring and alerting tools
• Threat intelligence integration
• Incident categorization and severity assessment
• Initial response and triage techniques

Module 4: Containment, Eradication, and Recovery

• Strategies for limiting damage during an attack
• Malware removal and threat eradication
• System restoration and backup management
• Communication protocols post-incident
• Lessons learned and long-term remediation

Module 5: Cybersecurity Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Public sector data protection regulations
• National and global cybersecurity frameworks
• Reporting requirements for public incidents
• Privacy and civil liberties considerations
• Building legal readiness into response plans

Module 6: Digital Forensics and Evidence Handling

• Preserving digital evidence in government environments
• Forensic investigation steps
• Chain of custody and documentation
• Analyzing log data and system anomalies
• Collaboration with law enforcement and legal teams

Module 7: Inter-Agency Coordination and Crisis Communication

• Setting up communication channels across government bodies
• Media engagement and public messaging
• Stakeholder management during cyber crises
• Coordination with national cyber defense entities
• Crisis simulations and tabletop exercises

Module 8: Building a Resilient Cybersecurity Culture

• Cyber hygiene and user awareness programs
• Insider threat management
• Institutionalizing regular training and drills
• Executive leadership and policy buy-in
• Creating a cybersecurity maturity roadmap

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.