Microsoft Partners with Kenya to Boost Cybersecurity in New Regional Initiative
ARC Initiative
Microsoft has launched the Advancing Regional Cybersecurity (ARC) Initiative, a strategic programme aimed at enhancing cyber resilience, preparedness, and coordination across the Global South.
The announcement was made during the second Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) held in Geneva.The initiative debuts with a flagship partnership with Kenya’s National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NC4), underscoring the growing importance of multistakeholder collaboration in an increasingly digital world.
“In today’s digital age, no nation can tackle cyber threats alone,” said Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft’s Vice President for Customer Security & Trust. “Our partnership with NC4 is grounded in a shared commitment to strengthen local capabilities and build long-term resilience.”
The ARC Initiative arrives amid a rapid digital transformation in Africa, where the growth of online services has outpaced cybersecurity infrastructure. Recent incidents, including a major data breach and a ransomware attack on a state-owned telecom, have highlighted the region’s vulnerability.
The partnership with NC4 will commence with a multi-stakeholder roundtable to align Kenya’s cybersecurity priorities, followed by a national cyber crisis simulation to test the country’s readiness.
Insights from these engagements will inform a cybersecurity planning toolkit co-developed by Microsoft and NC4, with the potential for regional adaptation.
“This partnership marks a significant step toward achieving Kenya’s national cybersecurity objectives,” Hogan-Burney noted. “Our collaboration is designed to be scalable, offering a model that can benefit other nations.”
The ARC Initiative builds on the momentum of the Accra Call, a multi stakeholders pledge launched by Microsoft at the inaugural GC3B in Ghana in 2023.
The tech giant now invites other governments to adopt similar frameworks in line with local contexts.“Cybersecurity is foundational to trust, economic stability, and national security,” said Hogan-Burney. “Together with NC4, we aim to secure Africa’s digital future.”
