INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Enterprise Security
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Embracing mobile brings
added risks
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Over the past three years, the ICT market in
Kenya has seen the likes of the Internet of
Things (IoT), virtualisation and cloud storage
becoming more mainstream. However, this
has also resulted in the evolution of the
cybersecurity threat landscape. Bethwel
Opil, Enterprise Sales Manager at Kaspersky
Lab Africa, looks into this in more depth.
it a growing realisation that corporate networks must be protected
differently than they have been in the past. Unfortunately, however,
one of the biggest challenges that still exist in the country is the
disconnect between what management wants and the practical
realities of IT security on the ground. The need to invest significantly in
more practical cybersecurity solutions must become more of a priority.
Changing times
Already, there are Kenyan organisations who have become open to this.
They want to reduce costs through innovative solutions, become more
agile in meeting customer needs and reduce the overheads in their
organisations, but sadly, this has seen IT security fall on the backburner.
In this environment, there is a critical need to educate companies on
the need to embark in cybersecurity awareness campaigns to better
understand its importance in this connected world. Beyond that, there
needs to be public education campaigns so people can become more
aware of the risks around data sharing and potential weak links in
the IT security chain. Things like not securing a mobile device with
cybersecurity software, a lack of password-protection, and the like
become more critical in this digital landscape.
Bethwel Opil, Enterprise Sales
Manager at Kaspersky Lab Africa
W
ith an Internet penetration rate of 85% (with 95% of
those users coming from mobile devices), Kenya is one
of the most connected countries in Africa. This has seen
organisations embrace mobile as a means of collecting targeted
data and customising products to suit the needs of customers
more effectively. However, with this customisation, comes a risk as
increasingly sophisticated malware is emerging – targeting data of
users and organisations especially in the financial services sector.
The Kenyan government is working with the ICT Authority and the
Communications Authority to tackle some of these challenges. They
are starting to prioritise information security and there is expected to
be noticeable improvements over the next two to three years.
Change does not happen overnight. It will take a concerted effort
from all stakeholders in the country to inform and educate people on
the need for cybersecurity and to be more mindful of who and how
they share their data with. By working together, Kenyans will become
digitally safer and better able to adapt to changing threats as more
innovative technologies are used. n
Of course, this has done little to curb public appetite for more mobile
solutions. So, while public and private sector entities are fighting to
safeguard personal, business, and other sensitive data, they still need
to meet customer demand to remain competitive.
In this environment, Kenyan businesses are looking at aspects like
mobility and IoT and especially how they can leverage it to make
it more efficient for employees to work remotely. This brings with
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