Connect with us

E-Business

IBM, Canonical Launch Linux-Based Netbook Software

Published

on

Kindly share this post

IBM has partnered South Africa’s Canonical  okUbuntu to provide flexible, open computing software solution to governments, public organisations and businesses in Sub Saharan Africa.
IBM and Canonical Ubuntu will introduce a new, flexible personal computing software package for netbooks and other thin client devices to help businesses and public organisations in Africa bridge the digital divide by leapfrogging traditional PCs and proprietary software. 
This is the first cloud- and premise- based Linux netbook software package offered by IBM and Canonical.   
Part of IBM’s Smart Work Initiative, this new package targets the rising popularity of low cost netbooks to make IBM’s industrial-strength software affordable to new mass audiences in Africa.  Businesses that could not afford traditional PCs for all employees can now use any type of device and low-cost software to equip all workers with the ability to work smarter anywhere through a variety of devices regardless of the level of communications infrastructure.  
The IBM Smart Work Client is available today across Africa and is being piloted for other emerging and growth markets worldwide.  The solution includes open standards-based email, word processing, spreadsheets, unified communication, social networking and other software to any laptop, netbook, or a variety of mobile devices.  It runs on the Canonical Ubuntu Linux operating system, and provides the option to deliver collaboration through the Web in a cloud service model. 
This software bundle can also be extended to virtualised workspaces using Verde from Virtual Bridges available locally through business partners and voice-based collaboration pilots through IBM Research.  IBM estimates that it delivers up to 50 percent savings per seat versus a Microsoft-based desktop.
“Businesses, public organisations and governments in emerging markets, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa, are looking to gain the freedom and flexibility afforded by open standards,” said Oliver Fortuin, general manager, IBM Sub Saharan Africa. 
The IBM Smart Work Client builds on the movement toward open standards and Web-based personal computing by giving people the power to work smarter regardless of device.
The IBM smart client package can help African governments deliver open standards using Open Document Format (ODF), which contributes toward the savings of up to 50 percent per individual seat versus a Microsoft-based desktop based on licensing, administration and maintenance.  The reduction of personal computing costs may enable governments to transfer information technology expenditures to fund mission-critical initiatives such as crisis or disaster management, education and health care.
“Starting with Africa, we see that IBM’s Smart Work Client can help realise our vision of  eliminating barriers to computer access for emerging markets,” said Mark Shuttleworth, founder, Canonical Ubuntu.  “Our partnership with IBM brings together the strengths of collaboration to help our customers work smarter using this new approach.”
With this new package, businesses can cultivate new suppliers and partners over the Web through IBM’s LotusLive.com that will allow them to expand service to new customers beyond their local area.  Through virtualisation of this collaboration software, they can exponentially increase their computing and collaboration power without additional infrastructure costs. 

 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Business

Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

Published

on

Kindly share this post

A widespread cyberattack targeting Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) server software used by thousands of government agencies and businesses for internal document sharing was likely orchestrated by a single actor, a cybersecurity researcher said on Monday.

Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

Microsoft issued an alert on Saturday warning of “active attacks” on on-premise SharePoint servers.

The company clarified that SharePoint Online, part of the Microsoft 365 cloud suite, was not affected by the exploit, which is considered a “zero-day” vulnerability due to its previously undiscovered nature.

“Based on the consistency of the tradecraft seen across observed attacks, the campaign launched on Friday appears to be a single actor. However, it’s possible that this will quickly change,” Rafe Pilling, director of Threat Intelligence at Sophos, a British cybersecurity firm.

That tradecraft included the sending of the same digital payload to multiple targets, Pilling added.

Microsoft said it had “provided security updates and encourages customers to install them,” a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

It was not clear who was behind the ongoing hack. The FBI said on Sunday it was aware of the attacks and was working closely with its federal and private-sector partners, but offered no other details.

Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Washington Post said unidentified actors in the past few days had exploited a flaw to launch an attack that targeted U.S. and international agencies and businesses.

According to data from Shodan, a search engine that helps to identify internet-linked equipment, over 8,000 servers online could theoretically have already been compromised by hackers.

Those servers include major industrial firms, banks, auditors, healthcare companies, and several U.S. state-level and international government entities.

“The SharePoint incident appears to have created a broad level of compromise across a range of servers globally,” said Daniel Card of British cybersecurity consultancy, PwnDefend.

“Taking an assumed breach approach is wise, and it’s also important to understand that just applying the patch isn’t all that is required here.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Flaw in Microsoft SharePoint Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concern

Published

on

Kindly share this post

A Microsoft SharePoint server software flaw is causing widespread concern across the global cybersecurity landscape, exposing thousands of organisations to hackers exploiting a new vulnerability.

This critical vulnerability exposes government agencies, universities, and energy firms who are at risk of cyberattacks. The flaw, now being actively exploited by unidentified hackers, allows attackers to gain deep, remote access to on-premise SharePoint servers.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has confirmed that the vulnerability can enable malicious actors to access internal files, change configurations, and even execute remote code, effectively giving them high-level control over compromised systems.

Microsoft has also acknowledged the breach and released a security patch aimed at stopping the ongoing attacks. The firm urged users to apply the patch immediately, saying it is working to roll out additional protections, according to a statement reported by Bloomberg.

Despite these efforts, cybersecurity researchers warn that systems may remain vulnerable if attackers have already infiltrated networks, stolen authentication keys, or implanted persistent backdoors before patches were applied.

The United States hosts the highest number of these vulnerable systems, followed by the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

The Washington Post reported that the breach has already impacted a range of institutions, including U.S. federal and state agencies, academic institutions, energy companies, and a telecommunications firm in Asia.

This latest incident adds to a growing list of cybersecurity challenges facing Microsoft. In March, the company revealed that Chinese state-backed hackers had targeted its cloud-based services to infiltrate both U.S. and international organisations.

Last year, the U.S. Cyber Safety Review Board sharply criticised Microsoft’s internal security culture as ‘inadequate’ after a separate breach compromised its Exchange Online mail systems and exposed communications of high-level officials.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

NIMC Enrolls 122m for NIN, Cuts Extortion by 40 Percent

Published

on

Kindly share this post

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that it has reduced incidents of extortion and unofficial charges in the identity enrolment process by over 40 per cent.

NIMC Enrolls 122m for NIN, Cuts Extortion by 40 Percent

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC,

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC, who disclosed this  at an event in Lagos at the weekend, attributed the drop to improved transparency in fee structure at the commission.

The CEO was represented by Lanre Yusuf, director, Information Technology and Identity Database, NINC.

The workshop, organised by the identity regulator in partnership with the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, focused on repositioning Nigeria’s digital identity landscape and combating misinformation.

According to Coker-Odusote, the sharp reduction in illicit charges is a direct result of reforms introduced by NIMC to curb racketeering and unauthorised payments, which have for years plagued the national identity registration process..

“Enrolment for the National Identification Number remains free. We have standardised modification and authentication fees, and these are publicly disclosed. Our enforcement of a transparent fee structure has resulted in a 40 per cent drop in extortion and unofficial charges,” the regulator said.

She explained that prior to her assumption of office, complaints about exploitative fees at enrolment centres were widespread, fuelling public distrust in the system.

However, she noted that the commission had since prioritised transparency and stakeholder accountability, ensuring that Nigerians no longer have to pay above the legally mandated fees. “We are addressing deep-rooted issues that once undermined public confidence in the enrolment process,” she said.

The NIMC chief added that the commission had introduced digital tools to reduce human interference in the registration process.

These include the NINAuth mobile app, the Self-Service NIN Enrolment and Modification app, and Contactless Biometric Solutions, all designed to make the system more efficient, secure, and user-friendly.

Coker-Odusote also reiterated the commission’s commitment to inclusion, stressing that no Nigerian should be left behind in the country’s digital identity transformation.

According to her, over 7,167 front-end enrolment agents and partners have been revalidated and retrained to serve the public professionally, with strict monitoring mechanisms now in place.

In addition, NIMC has deployed grievance redress officers across all 36 states to handle complaints from Nigerians about enrolment centres and agents, with a 24/7 toll-free line available to report any misconduct.

The reforms are part of broader efforts by the Commission to build a unified, secure, and people-centred digital identity system that facilitates access to government services, financial inclusion, social protection, and national planning.

Coker-Odusote called on media partners to support the Commission in disseminating accurate information, countering misinformation, and raising awareness about the benefits of digital identity.

“We are asking our partners in the media to help us combat fake news and promote transparency in the identity ecosystem. We need to ensure every Nigerian understands their rights and knows that their identity is key to accessing opportunities and services,” she said.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending