E-Business
Why Your VPN is Still Using a Rotary Phone: The Modern Guide to Secure WFA
By Ifeanyi Akosionu
Picture this: It’s 2020, the early days of the great work-from-anywhere experiment. I’m in my home office, tropical drink in hand (because hey, remote work!), when our VPN coughs and splutters like a malfunctioning karaoke machine. Suddenly, a crucial client video call disconnects, causing panic and stress – not exactly the image of a seamless, secure WFA environment.
Turns out, those trusty old VPNs were like trying to secure your online bank account with a rusty padlock. They simply weren’t built for the explosion of remote workers. Many businesses faced similar challenges – phishing attacks, data breaches, and a general feeling of being precariously perched on a cybersecurity tightrope.
At inq., we knew the answer wasn’t clinging to outdated technology. We needed a solution as innovative and adaptable as the WFA revolution itself. Enter our dynamic duo: XDR (Extended Detection and Response) and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge).
The XDR Advantage: More Than Just Buzzwords
Think of XDR as your digital security Sherlock Holmes. It analyses every corner of your data landscape, sniffing out anomalies and threats faster than you can say “phishing attempt.” With XDR, you’re not just getting a security solution; you’re getting a comprehensive security operations platform designed to modernise and streamline your entire cybersecurity strategy.
- Limitless Visibility: Hundreds of one-click integrations, a community of extensions, and simple custom ingestion with one Agent. This means you have a 360-degree view of all your operations, eliminating blind spots.
- Limitless Data: XDR allows for action on frozen storage data (like S3) for years of search, threat intelligence, dashboards, reports, and more. Imagine having years of data at your fingertips, ready to be analysed and reported on.
- Limitless Analysis: Machine learning (ML) and threat intelligence work together to identify anomalies and potential threats. You can aggregate results, prioritise, and investigate across multi-cloud environments, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
- Limitless Value: Security is all-inclusive, with no price per seat, agent, or GB ingested. Deploy anywhere—any cloud, on-prem, or both. This flat-rate pricing structure ensures you get comprehensive security without surprise bills.
SASE: The Future of Network Security
Traditional, centralised security solutions are outdated. They’re like trying to control rush hour traffic with a single traffic light. It just doesn’t work. Our SASE approach offers a distributed solution perfect for a distributed workforce.
- Flexible, Consistent Security: SASE delivers a comprehensive range of security services, from threat prevention to NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall) policies, to any edge, ensuring zero-trust network access. This means knowing who is on your network, what is on your network, and protecting assets both on and off the network.
- Reduced Costs: SASE conquers point product sprawl by using a single platform approach and reducing or eliminating capex and opex costs. Say goodbye to multiple security subscriptions and hello to a unified solution.
- Simplified Architecture: SASE consolidates key networking and security functions from disparate point products into single solutions, all easily managed from a single-pane-of-glass management system. This reduces complexity and makes your IT team’s job easier.
- Optimised Performance: Leveraging cloud availability, your team members can easily and securely connect to the Internet, applications, and corporate resources wherever they are located. Whether they’re in a bustling office or a serene beach, their connection remains secure and reliable.
Real-World Impact and Future Trends
The Gartner Report predicts that by the end of 2024, at least 40% of enterprises will be embracing SASE. At inq., we’re not just predicting the future, we’re building it. Our XDR and SASE combo isn’t just about safeguarding your business; it’s about empowering a flexible, efficient, and worry-free WFA experience.
So, the next time you’re sipping your coffee at a café or brainstorming by the beach, remember: with the right security solutions, you don’t have to settle for a rotary-phone-wielding VPN. Embrace the future of secure WFA. Let’s ditch the cold sweat and work smarter, not harder.
Ready to transform your remote work experience and secure your digital landscape? Contact us today to learn how inq. can help you unlock the full potential of WFA in your business—within budget, across geographies, and without a hitch.
Simpler. Seamless. Solutions
Ifeanyi Akosionu is Managing Director – Anglophone WA, inq. Nigeria
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has set in motion a machinery to checkmate the booming copyright piracy market in the country.
Copyright piracy is said to cost Nigeria an annual loss estimated at billions of naira.
Despite the absence of a coordinated or official statistics to gauge the quantum of loss, John Asein, director general, NCC, said as far back as 2019, Nigeria lost N918 trillion ($3 billion) annually to digital piracy.
The financial damages severely impact local businesses and innovation efforts.
The commission, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has started a project to develop strategies and tools to address the menace.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the WIPO project to address online copyright piracy in Nigeria, Asein said digital technologies have unlocked tremendous opportunities for the creative and innovation sectors.
The NCC boss said technology also poses serious challenges, including online piracy, which he said is growing rapidly.
He said: “Pirate sites continue to emerge rapidly, with statistics indicating a 6.7 per cent increase in user visits. A significant percentage of these users are students aged between 18 and 24, with social media and messaging platforms becoming major gateways for accessing pirated content.”
He added: “No industry is immune. The most affected sectors include television (43.6 per cent), publishing (27.5 per cent), film (12.9 per cent), music (7.0 per cent), and software (6.2 per cent).
“Far beyond mere statistics, the victims are no longer only foreign right owners. Many Nigerians in these sectors have also been bruised and their creative enterprises ruined.”
Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has signed an international mail partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for improved delivery access to over 200 countries without middlemen.
Tolani Odeyemi, postmaster-general and chief executive officer of NIPOST, described the deal as a “major milestone” for the country’s logistics and postal sector.
In a statement on X on Monday, Odeyemi explained that the new agreement marks NIPOST’s first direct international airline partnership for several years.
“For a long time, NIPOST operated without any direct partnerships with international airlines, relying heavily on multiple third-party handlers,” the Postmaster-General stated. This often resulted in delays, higher costs, and uncertainty around the delivery of packages.”
She explained that under the new arrangement, KLM will directly handle all outbound international mail from Nigeria, eliminating the need for intermediaries.
“This translates to faster and more reliable delivery, reduced risk of loss or damage, lower handling charges, and access to over 200 countries through KLM’s global network,” the Postmaster-General stressed.
According to Odeyemi, NIPOST’s breakthrough came after it began settling long-standing debts owed to international carriers, a step she said was key to “rebuilding global trust” in Nigeria’s postal system.
She revealed that talks were also ongoing with Ethiopian Airlines to bolster regional and continental logistics, particularly on African and Eastern routes.
“Our goal is clear and unwavering: to connect Nigeria regionally and globally, efficiently, securely, and affordably,” Odeyemi asserted.
The NIPOST CEO described the development as a significant win for Nigerian businesses and small and medium-scale enterprises that rely on international shipping, stating, “You now benefit from quicker, more affordable international shipping, greater peace of mind with improved reliability, and new potential to reach and grow in global markets.”
Odeyemi commended the teams behind the scenes and pledged continued improvements in service delivery, adding that the deal signals a turning point for the agency.
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