ENTERPRISE 101

Safaricom IT solutions enhance enterprise security 

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Bob Collymore, the Chief Executive Officer at Safaricom: "We are excited to see that the solution is gathering interest with some of our customers in the financial services and transport industires already signing up for the service."
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[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ncreased usage of digital technology utilizing mobile and internet services enhances efficiency, but businesses are realizing that this comes with a major security liability. Business owners and managers are constantly worried when it comes to securing their systems especially emails and data.

Indeed, security compromises on data and other business secrets have become common these days and even SMEs are not being spared.

Safaricom PLC, moving to eliminate this worry for businesses, has come up with a wide range of security solutions for enterprises to protect their IT systems and focus on their core business.

In IT, a company is as strong as its weakest link. And that’s where Safaricom’s new solutions come in to plug the loopholes and give managers a piece of mind: its experts deal with all the vulnerabilities.

Some of the main Safaricom EBU services include Managed Security Solutions, Security Assurance and Advisory services as well as Managed Security Operations Center solutions. With these services, companies, enterprises, and individuals can secure their emails, websites, manage vulnerabilities, test and audit IT systems and access real time monitoring among other services.

New vulnerabilities are coming through technologies like Bluetooth or the ubiquitous Wi-Fi, putting both organisations and consumers at risk especially from mobile devices, besides email phishing and malware.

Any company or individual connected to internet or mobile network is vulnerable to cyberattacks, yet a lot many have not taken precaution. Those that have secured themselves against cyberattacks and reaping the fruits.

A recent report by Vodafone “Cyber Ready Barometer” shows that 48% of cyber ready businesses are reporting more than 5% increases in annual revenue as well as high stakeholder trust levels.

[ Read Also: Ndoto Zetu – Making dreams come true, the Safaricom way ]

The report notes, however, that only 24% of businesses globally could reasonably call themselves cyber ready. Applied locally, it means most of the companies operating in Kenya (76% or even more) are vulnerable to cyberattacks and thus need one or more of the Safaricom’s cybersecurity solutions.

Besides ensuring IT systems are managed by a big company with tested experts, Safaricom’s EBU solutions come in handy for businesses looking to cut their operational costs since outsourcing these functions will render some jobs redundant. Many businesses use solutions hosted outside Kenya by multinational IT companies, but Safaricom now brings a stronger proposition of homegrown solutions.

Services are targeted at individuals and corporates in the financial services, media and energy distribution

Malicious emails are the most common weapon of choice for a wide range of cyber-attacks since they are the most used ID at the workplace. Internet Security Report Software company Symantec says email attacks can be used by everyone from State-sponsored cyber espionage groups to mass-mailing ransomware gangs. According to the report one in 131 emails sent in 2016 were malicious, the highest rate in five years.

Safaricom enterprise business solutions cater to all budgets and this suite of cybersecurity offering comes with unique services for different tastes from a needs and size perspectives. The services are targeted at individuals and corporates, more so those in the financial services, media, energy production & distribution and transport industries.

[ See: Safaricom helps bring out artistic creativity among Kenyans ]

Written by
BT Reporter -

editor [at] businesstoday.co.ke

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