In prioritising the safety of its customers, Huawei takes several approaches to keeping customers protected from cybersecurity threats – including AI, tech innovation and governance interventions.
This holistic approach was disclosed to Timeline News by Osita Iweze, Huawei Nigeria's Cybersecurity and Privacy Officer against the backdrop of rising concerns about cyber security and uncertainties about artificial intelligence. The National Information Technology Development Agency had issued several warnings and advisories this year against several cyber attack incidents.
In November this year, the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, at a sensitisation workshop for the implementation of the “National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021’’ said Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya recorded over two million cyber attacks in the first half of 2021.
"On the artificial intelligence (AI) front, Huawei has developed a series of AI-powered security products and components centering on risk identification, situational awareness, risk prevention and response.
"These tools are integrated with our 5G, IoT, and cloud solutions to provide intelligent network boundary protection and defence, real-time situational awareness, and efficient closed-loop handling of security risks, thereby helping customers build network resilience to protect themselves and their customers.
"We have also introduced full-stack security technologies into our ICT products to enhance product security and resilience. These technologies include host-intrusion detection, sandboxing functionality, container security, CPU side-channel attack detection, web application security and intelligent risk control," he said.
He also explained how the company deploys cyber-security tools to protect mobile telecommunications devices and infrastructure.
"We have also deployed memory-code integrity measurement on 5G base stations, ensuring runtime code security. Furthermore, we have enhanced kernel integrity protection on mobile phones, and applied key security technologies such as the real-time detection of kernel attacks and AI-based detection of unknown threats to improve mobile-phone security.
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"Another area of Huawei innovation is in mobile apps. Dynamic and static privacy data-access compliance-detection technologies can now detect exceptions in mobile applications, such as permission abuse, malicious behaviour, and pirated applications. This not only ensures that the Huawei AppGallery complies with Android Green Alliance 2.0, but also provides for a clean and sustainable application software ecosystem," Osita added.
Finally, Osita also shared steps the company has been undertaking in the area of AI governance to help address issues of concern around the area of AI security.
"In 2019, Huawei released the “Thinking Ahead about AI Security and Privacy Protection” white paper, setting out Huawei’s views on the current security and privacy challenges surrounding AI. The paper explores key topics such as technical reliability, societal applications, and legal requirements and responsibilities.
"The paper proposes a number of feasible governance models, including planning trustworthy technical solutions, and adopting a shared responsibility model for AI security and privacy. The paper calls on all stakeholders to work together towards shared goals for the healthy development of AI into the future.
"Our experience tells us that no one has a monopoly on good ideas. The more we share and discuss the challenges we all face, the more we can improve solutions, standards and approaches to raise the bar for everyone. Huawei remains determined to communicate and cooperate with stakeholders with openness, integrity and accountability.
"We strive to address cybersecurity and privacy-protection challenges through technological innovation, standards development, and management improvement to help customers establish their own cyber-resilience and risk-mitigation strategies," he concluded.
