Strategic Management Meeting: 1 August 2003

THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURING INFORMATION

The world in which now live places great importance on information both as a resource and as a means of ensuring that we improve economy, effectiveness and efficiency. At the same time, given that information is of strategic importance it is necessary that we devote a lot of attention to securing that information. Anecdotally, I am tired of hearing that members of staff may well be providing information to outsiders and those with vested interests who aim to subvert municipal policies.

At last week's Strategic Management meeting, I invited the National Intelligence Agency to make a presentation on the range of services they provide and which are directly geared towards assisting government in securing its information. Given that the process of protecting information is to be driven by my office we received this presentation witha lot of interest.

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) made a presentation on security measures for protection of information, for consideration by the Ethekwini municipality. In particular, we will work on government's Minimum Information Standards System to develop similar guidelines for implementation in eThekwini.

The NIA would work closely with eThekwini to ensure we follow the guidelines set by MISS.

In the next few weeks we will be:

Appointing a Security Manager and all matters concerning the security of information would be centred around that person.
Finalising the city's security policy and this would be under the overall control of the City Manager who would implement it, in conjunction with the NIA.

Finalising a Security Committee of officials who would be charged with keeping the Security Manager informed on, among other issues, a variety of developments that have a potential to impact on security for information.

Enforcing a Minimum Information Standards System for eThekwini. The security approach would also deal with vetting eThekwini's suppliers as well as providing recommendations on physical security measures.

It is important that all staff understand the importance of securing whatever information they may have about the municipality as we find in the world today economic intelligence is far more important than any other forms of intelligence. Such information, which should be classified, generally leaks out at an administrative level rather than at political level and it is incumbent on us all to secure all information we come across in our everyday work process.

Managers: Response levels:

May I bring to the attention of all staff my concern that there is a tendency on the part of some managers to not respond to correspondence promptly. Unless there are relevant reasons for not responding immediately to mail/e-Mails/telephonic requests, may I urge that we all change focus and respond timeously to members of the public who make requests for assistance.