Microsoft has launched the Advancing Regional Cybersecurity (ARC) Initiative, a bold new effort to strengthen cyber resilience and preparedness across regions, starting with a flagship partnership with Kenya’s National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NC4).
The announcement was made during the second Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (GC3B) in Geneva, Switzerland, where global cybersecurity leaders gathered to address the growing complexity of cyber threats in an increasingly interconnected world.
The ARC Initiative aims to enhance regional coordination, deepen threat intelligence sharing, and build the technical capacity of national institutions to effectively manage cyber risks.
The launch comes at a critical time, as digital transformation accelerates across the Global South—particularly in Africa—outpacing the maturity of cybersecurity infrastructure. “In today’s digital age, no nation can tackle cyber threats alone,” said Amy Hogan-Burney, Microsoft’s Vice President of Customer Security & Trust. “Our partnership with NC4 reflects Microsoft’s belief in building strong, local alliances to create sustainable cyber resilience.”
The collaboration with NC4 marks the first step in a broader effort to strengthen Kenya’s national cybersecurity posture. It will kick off with a multi-stakeholder roundtable to align on national cyber priorities, followed by a cyber crisis simulation aimed at testing Kenya’s readiness to handle large-scale cyber threats.
In addition, Microsoft and NC4 will co-develop a cybersecurity planning toolkit, designed to support Kenya’s ongoing cyber efforts and serve as a model for other nations in the region.“This partnership is an important step in realizing Kenya’s national cybersecurity ambitions,” said Hogan-Burney. “Microsoft’s expertise and commitment to capacity-building align well with our national goals. Together, we hope to model a scalable and impactful approach that other countries can learn from.”
The ARC Initiative builds on Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to global cybersecurity, particularly through the Accra Call, a multistakeholder pledge launched at the first GC3B in Ghana in 2023.
With ARC, Microsoft envisions a flexible, repeatable framework for regional cyber resilience, inviting other governments and institutions to explore similar collaborations suited to their local needs. “Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue but a foundation of trust in digital services, economic stability, and national security,” Hogan-Burney concluded. “We’re proud to stand with NC4 and look forward to working with more partners across Africa and beyond to secure our shared digital future.”
As cyber threats continue to evolve in scale and sophistication, the ARC Initiative represents a significant step toward building a more secure and resilient digital ecosystem across the Global South.
