E-Business
CWG, MAG Tech Introduce Effective Approach to IT Risks and Security
Computer Warehouse Group (CWG PLC), the leading technology Company in Africa and MAG Tech, a specialized information security and intelligence Company, recently organized an information security session in Lagos where all the decision makers charged with security in financial sector, and technology experts converged to deliberate on the new concept that will curb Cyber-attacks and fraud in the industry.
This is in a bid to reduce the level of threat and Cyber- attack in the financial sector.
The session themed, ‘Security Operations Centre (SOC) – Financial Services in the Cyber Attack Era’ created a rich avenue for the stakeholders to extensively discuss and understand the new concept, Security Operations Centre (SOC) as the ultimate information security platform required to drastically minimize the Cyber-attack and threats currently being encountered by the financial institutions.
Speaking at the session, James Agada, chief technology officer of CWG, said that CWG as a Technology Company goes beyond enabling businesses with products and solutions to concepts that will ensure 100% security of all the customers’ transactions.
According to Agada, product and product knowledge are not adequate to achieve the end result of any business solution, and hence the need for the new concept, which is centered on how to detect and react to fraudulent transactions.
Agada further expressed that 50% of the transactions in the industry are running on the servers that are being managed by CWG’s seasoned and trained engineers.
“Our aim is to ensure that these skills are internalized in Africa as information security is crucial to us and our customers” He said.
Nadav Arbel – MAG Tech’s chief technical officer, in his presentation on Darknet and Crime stated that Cyber-attack is originated from the Darknet which is the illegal part of the internet.
According to Arbel, Cyber-attack occurs when there is data leakage which may be caused by misconfiguration of a server or other sources.
He stated further that no one can run a business efficiently without being on the internet and as long as your business is connected on the internet, you will experience some form of cyber-attack and threat. Hence the solution is your ability to detect and prevent it.
“Security Operations Centre has been conceptualized for detection and prevention of darknet’s negative impact on businesses” He added.
One of the highlights of the session was a testimonial from one of the leading banks in Africa where Mag Tech has implemented a SOC.
According to the testimony, the bank was struggling with Cyber-attacks and threats until a Security Operations Center was designed and implemented.
Presently, they can monitor all the transactions on their network across the globe through the SOC concept from their office in Lagos.
The number of intra-bank and inter-bank Cyber-attacks and threats detected and prevented can also be tracked through SOC.
The testifier concluded by encouraging the other banks to have a strategic roadmap to tackle IT Risks & Security issues by looking at implementation of a standard & effective Security Operations Center.
In his words, “Any bank that wants to be in business and roll out innovative products powered by IT infrastructure must take into consideration the Security Operations Centre, as information security is very key in the financial industry”.
He further explained that the concept enables the bank to help their customers from being defrauded and the banks can jointly eliminate or maximally reduce the level of Cyber-attacks and threats in the system when all the banks are monitoring through SOC.
This SOC concept is effective and is a necessity for all the banks that want to remain in business considering the huge amount of losses banks incur as a result of cyber-attacks. “The cost of implementing SOC concept is very minimal compared to the losses through Cyber-attacks” he said.
The event was attended by almost all the banks in Nigeria, and has provided a platform for banks to share information on effective security operations centre implementations to curb fraud and enhance the growing use of the internet for banking and financial inclusion within a safe and secure framework.
Amazon’s management on Wednesday said that it expects that artificial intelligence software will reduce the number of office workers at the world’s largest online retailer.
Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon
“We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today and more people doing other types of jobs,” Andy Jassy, chief executive, Amazon wrote in an email to employees.
He said it was difficult to predict how the overall workforce will evolve, but in the next few years, it is expected that AI efficiency gains will lead to a reduction in the number of office workers.
According to earlier reports, Amazon employed around 1.5 million people worldwide, with approximately 350,000 office employees in various roles.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the company does not anticipate further large-scale layoffs, as seen in 2022 and 2023, in the near future.
Instead, it expects that vacant positions will not be refilled.
However, layoffs are not ruled out, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“Amazon is focusing on so-called AI agents, software capable of independently performing tasks. These agents could, for example, summarise information from the web and data sources, write software, translate languages and automate many time-consuming tasks,” Mr Jassy explained.
“Agents will be teammates that we can call on at various stages of our work,” he added, urging employees to experiment with AI whenever possible.
The impact of AI on the job market has been a concern for many years.
Recently, Spotify, the leader in music streaming, announced that teams requesting additional staff would first need to prove that AI could not perform the tasks.
The creators of the language-learning app Duolingo plan to gradually replace external workers with AI.
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to data protection in Nigeria.
He disclosed this in a statement at the weekend by Zira Nagga, head of Public Relations, BPP, following a courtesy visit by a delegation from the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Adedokun stressed that data protection is vital to Nigeria’s economy and development, particularly in areas such as demography, health, education, and other key sectors.
He emphasised that no country should leave its data unprotected, as it plays a crucial role in future planning and national development.
“Data governs the world. It is essential to technological progress and must be protected for a country or business to be taken seriously,” he said.
Adedokun described the visit, aimed at fostering partnership on data policy implementation and protection, as timely and aligned with national goals.
He said the BPP would collaborate closely with the NDPC to boost data development, capacity building, and enhance the procurement system.
“The BPP will support compliance as part of the ‘Nigeria First’ Policy, although it is not a core procurement eligibility requirement,” he explained.
He suggested a hybrid training model to help build strong capacity in data protection, privacy awareness, and policy understanding.
According to him, a dynamic training approach will reduce logistics costs and improve public confidence in data safety and privacy.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, CEO, and national commissioner, NDPC, praised Adedokun and the BPP for supporting data protection initiatives.
He said the partnership supports President Bola Tinubu’s vision and will strengthen data privacy across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“The collaboration will create awareness and train BPP staff to ensure a firm grasp of data protection principles and policies,” he stated.
Olatunji said the NDPC would establish a working group to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding beneficial to both institutions.
He added that President Tinubu signed the NDPC into law on 12 June 2023 to uphold citizens’ rights and protect national and business data.
Olatunji also noted that strict legal measures were in place to enforce data protection and ensure full compliance nationwide.
Both agencies agreed to form a team to sign the MoU and focus on capacity building and data management in procurement and beyond.
President Bola Tinubu said that his administration has initiated a project to install fibre optic cables across the country, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
His plans were contained in a speech he delivered at a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12.
He said the fibre optic layout is part of other projects being embarked on.
“In addition, we have embarked on an ambitious project to lay fibre optic cables across the nation, a transformative step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering greater connectivity.
“This initiative promises not only to enhance the speed and reliability of internet access but also to revolutionise how businesses operate, how students learn, and how communities stay connected,” Tinubu stated.
He maintained that by extending this critical infrastructure, his government is empowering entrepreneurs, enabling digital education, and providing the tools for our youth to compete in a globalised world.
In a most recent report on Internet connectivity, The ICIR pointed out how Nigeria has faced setbacks in its deployment of fibre optic cables and needs a transformation.
The challenges revolve around vandalism, inadequate coordination between road construction and telecom infrastructure, and varying right-of-way (RoW) charges across states.
Among industry experts, these issues impact network outages, increase repair costs, and hinder broadband expansion efforts.
It has also further threatened the digital economy, leading to slower Internet speeds, dropped calls, and unreliable connectivity among others.
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