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Maximizing IT as Business Enabler

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Bola Adisa
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The era of running your business with “GUT FEEL” or Speculations is going extinct in Nigeria. Neither will “Peer Pressure” effect of everyone is doing it so I must do it be any beneficial to any business.

Every business, small or big, need proper intelligence to fuel strategy to advance the business.

The influence of Information Technology (IT) and market opportunities on business and its effect on emerging small businesses is something for most business to give attention to. Information Technology (IT) has grown to be an essential component of any firm’s strategy in the market place.

Information Technology has shown to be a transformation agent. Here, new technologies enable firms to radically transform their business, sometimes creating something that is unrecognizable as deriving from the former business.

The truth is, any business that is not embracing technology as a business enabler is doing business at its own peril.

Everyone will agree that business productivity can be traced to an organization’s ability to successfully execute on overall strategy.

If execution of strategy is the key to a successful business — what are the steps to increasing your business productivity for greater execution on your strategic goals?

How do you know your business alignment and people performance are working at optimal levels to maximize business productivity resulting in the best possible results?

This is where information technology comes in. Information technology provides the bridge between strategy, execution and performance.

Using technology to maximize your business productivity creates the platform to realize true business success.

However organizations need to understand their own DNA and strategy, and with that know for certain when, how and where to use IT to leverage the business for optimal performance.

Information Technology should be a business success enabler, but we’ve seen that in recent times that IT departments are more of a cost center for many organization than business success enabler.

The cost of IT not commensurate with the value it delivers. Should it be so?

I strongly believe that there should be a science to what and how technology can be used to enhance which business process for maximal performance.

I also believe the very first question businesses should ask before spending money or time on technology is, “why am I doing this?” If there is not a core business benefit to be gained, why do it in the first place?

For IT to be maximized as a business enabler, business managers should invest time and money to answer the following:

1.      Why is the technology needed and for which business process?

2.      How much, comparatively in size and industry specificity, does go into IT spend in a financial year?

3.      What costs should be considered to be part of your IT budget? These costs are broken down into several categories:

 Initial cost – hardware and software, and training

 Ongoing cost – maintaining systems, including licenses for proprietary software, hosting, and support.

 Upgrade cost – cost of upgrades, and expected lifespan of systems/frequency of upgrades.

 Value proposition – how much employee time will the system save? How much new business could the system generate?

 Opportunity cost – how much potential revenue is lost by not implementing a system? What are your competitors doing in this area?

 Risk – what are the risks of a particular system? What does it cost to mitigate those risks?

4.      Where should you be spending the IT budgets? Should you spend most of your technology budget on infrastructure, hosted applications, custom line-of-business applications, or what? The answer to this depends a lot on your industry, but even more on your specific business.

5.      When should you spend on technology and to what extent? Technology has a cost not just in dollars, but also in the time you and your employees need to spend adapting to it.

6.      Who? You need to decide who to help you implement technology in your business. Will you do it yourself? Do you purchase an off-the shelf product? Do you use free software? Do you hire a programmer to create a custom system? Do you use a hosted system? Do you hire a consultant to help?

In conclusion, a strong plan for use of technology should be a part of every business plan, and re-evaluated whenever taking a strategic look at a business. Technology is both a cost of doing business, and an opportunity to do more business.

I think it’s time for CIOs and business managers to take a step back and look at the big picture of technology in business.

Bola Adisa is an IT Business Analyst based in Lagos Nigeria. He currently leads the West Africa sub-region, out of Lagos Nigeria, for a premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets.


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E-Business

Study Reveals 88.5% of Phishing Attacks Focus on Stealing Account Credentials

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Kaspersky analysed phishing and scam campaigns observed from January through September 2025 and found that 88.5% of attacks globally sought credentials for various online accounts.

Another 9.5% targeted personal data such as names, addresses, and dates of birth, while 2% focused on bank card details.

According to data from Kaspersky, over 38 million phishing links were clicked in Africa in the previous year (from November 2024 to October 2025) – all of which were detected and blocked by Kaspersky solutions.

Not everyone uses protective solutions on their devices however, and phishing remains one of the most prevalent cyber threats, with attackers luring users to fake websites where they unwittingly surrender their login credentials, personal information, or bank card details.

Kaspersky research shows that most phishing pages transmit stolen information via email, Telegram bots, or attacker-controlled panels, before it enters underground resale channels.

Data stolen through phishing is rarely used only once: credentials from multiple campaigns are consolidated into data dumps and sold on dark web markets, in some cases for as little as $50. Buyers sort and verify the data to check whether accounts remain active and reusable across different services.

According to Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence, average 2025 prices ranged from $0.90 for global Internet portals to $105 for crypto platforms and $350 for online banking access. Personal documents such as passports or ID cards sold for about $15 on average, with pricing influenced by account age, balance, linked payment methods, and security settings.

As datasets are enriched and combined, attackers can build detailed digital profiles that may later support targeted attacks on executives, finance staff, IT-administrators or individuals with valuable assets or personal documents.

“Our analysis shows that credentials account for nearly 90% of phishing attempts. Once collected, logins, passwords, phone numbers, and personal details are aggregated, checked, and resold, sometimes years after the initial theft.

Combined with new information, even old credentials can enable account takeovers and targeted attacks against both individuals and organisations.

By leveraging open-source intelligence and old breach data, attackers can craft highly personalised scams, turning one-time victims into long-term targets for identity theft, blackmail, or financial fraud,” said Olga Altukhova, senior web content analyst at Kaspersky.


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Study Reveals Majority of IT Professionals Show Openness to Cyber Immunity

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The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly, with organisations seeking more robust ways to protect their digital assets. A recent global study conducted by Kaspersky reveals a growing shift toward proactive security strategies, particularly the adoption of Secure by Design development and Cyber Immunity – an innovative approach that embeds resilience directly into system architecture.

The study highlights that 90% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region are familiar with Secure by Design development. This methodology integrates security into the very fabric of a system from its inception, rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Such an approach is already employed in high-stakes industries like aerospace, where security cannot be bolted on later – it must be intrinsic. Despite its advantages, however, adoption has been slow due to challenges related to standardisation and cost.

Cyber Immunity is the next frontier in cybersecurity

Building on Secure by Design principles, Cyber Immunity takes cybersecurity a step further by creating systems that inherently resist attacks without the need for constant patching or additional security layers. The study reveals that most experts are familiar with Cyber Immunity but interpret it differently.

When asked what they associate with the term, 64% of respondents in the META region linked it to Secure by Design systems that remain resilient under attack, while 56% viewed it as a combination of technology and policy measures that block cybercriminal access. Another 48% connected it to highly skilled cybersecurity teams, indicating that while awareness is high, a unified understanding is still developing.

The growing demand for proactive security

One of the most striking findings is the optimism surrounding inherently secure systems. Over half of respondents in the META region (63%) believe it is already possible or definitely achievable to design systems capable of withstanding cyberattacks without relying on additional security solutions.

Another 32% think it might be possible, reflecting openness to this idea despite some uncertainty. This shift in mindset aligns with a broader industry trend: traditional reactive security measures are no longer sufficient.

With AI-powered threats and increasingly sophisticated attacks, organisations need solutions that do more than just detect breaches—they must prevent them by design.

Integrating Cyber Immunity into security strategies

The study emphasises that resilience, expertise, and flexibility will define the next generation of cybersecurity. While Secure by Design provides the methodology, Cyber Immunity represents the ultimate goal—systems so robust that they minimise reliance on external defences.

“For companies looking ahead, Cyber Immunity offers more than just protection — it brings clear business benefits. When systems are built to be secure from the ground up, there’s less need for constant updates, patches, and extra security tools. That means fewer costs, less strain on IT teams, and stronger, more reliable protection over time,” said Dmitry Lukiyan, Head of KasperskyOS Business Unit.

Most importantly in today’s threat landscape, Cyber Immunity offers robust protection against next-generation challenges — including AI-driven attacks capable of outmaneuvering traditional security measures.

When security becomes an intrinsic property of system architecture rather than an external addition, businesses gain more than just protection—they secure a competitive market advantage.

This proactive approach future-proofs critical infrastructure, enabling organisations to operate confidently even as threats evolve. It transforms cybersecurity from a defensive necessity into a strategic differentiator that accelerates digital transformation while mitigating risk.

As the cybersecurity environment becomes more complex, Cyber Immunity is emerging as a vital strategy. Organisations that adopt it now will not only enhance their protection but also position themselves ahead of the curve in an increasingly volatile digital world.

 


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Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

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Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce platform, has launched its inaugural 2026 shopping campaign, Konga Jara, offering 25 per cent discount on Starlink internet kits alongside free nationwide delivery.

Konga launches Jara sales with 25% discount on Starlink kits, free delivery

Konga

The campaign, drawing from the Nigerian concept of “jara” — the extra value traders add to purchases — aims to deliver exceptional deals across categories, helping shoppers turn new year aspirations into reality through affordable technology and value-driven shopping.

To qualify for the Starlink discount, customers must purchase kits on Konga.com, activate them at starlink.com/activate, and email activation details to [email protected] for verification against Starlink’s records. Discounts are subject to terms and conditions.

Konga said spotlighting Starlink underscores reliable internet’s role in Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting work, learning, entrepreneurship and communication for households and businesses.

Mr Onochie Melvin, Head of Commercial Planning at Konga, said: “We listened carefully to what Nigerians said they needed to truly kickstart 2026 on the right footing. Reliable internet connectivity emerged as the foundation upon which other aspirations depend.”

He added: “Students need it for online learning, entrepreneurs need it to scale digital businesses, and professionals rely on it for remote work. This Starlink offer is not just about selling products; it is about removing barriers that prevent Nigerians from fully participating in the digital economy.”

Beyond connectivity, Konga Jara provides genuine products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with transparent pricing, warranties and authenticity guarantees.

As a composite e-commerce ecosystem, Konga integrates shopping, payments and logistics for seamless nationwide access, with exclusive deals shared via its social media channels throughout the campaign.

Shoppers can explore offers at www.konga.com and follow Konga’s official pages for updates across the Konga Group.


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