Guard your devices like your duty post, cybersecurity expert tells Lagos security operatives

Security personnel have been urged to treat their smartphones, laptops and official digital devices with the same level of care they give their firearms, radios and duty posts, as cybercriminals increasingly exploit digital channels to target security agencies.

The Chief Digital Officer of The Encrypse Limited, Desmond Nnebue, made the call while speaking at a two-day training organised by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) on Enhancing Professional Capacity, Ethical Standards and Interagency Collaboration for Effective Security Operations.

According to Nnebue, cybersecurity is no longer the responsibility of IT departments alone but a critical component of modern security operations.

“As security threats evolve, protecting digital assets has become just as important as protecting physical infrastructure,” he said.

He explained that every security operative now handles sensitive information that must be protected from cybercriminals seeking to gain unauthorised access, manipulate records or disrupt critical operations.

To help participants understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity, Nnebue highlighted the three pillars of information security—confidentiality, integrity and availability.

He described confidentiality as ensuring that only authorised persons can access sensitive information. Sharing one-time passwords (OTPs), reusing passwords across multiple accounts or posting operational details on social media, he warned, creates opportunities for cyber attackers.

On integrity, he stressed the need to ensure information remains accurate and protected from unauthorised changes, noting that phishing attacks, impersonation scams and malicious links are among the most common methods criminals use to compromise data.

He added that availability means ensuring digital systems and information remain accessible whenever needed, warning that outdated software, malware infections or stolen devices could prevent officers from accessing critical information during emergencies.

Nnebue encouraged participants to adopt basic cybersecurity best practices, including using strong and unique passwords, enabling device locks, installing software updates promptly, avoiding suspicious links, limiting access to sensitive information on a need-to-know basis and verifying identities before granting access or approving requests.

He noted that while cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication, many successful attacks still result from simple lapses in digital hygiene.

“The strongest cybersecurity defence often starts with everyday habits,” he said.

Nnebue concluded by urging security operatives to see cybersecurity as an extension of their duty to protect lives and property.

“Stay safe digitally so you can keep citizens safe,” he said.