CEO magazine Volume 21 | Issue 1 by CEO Global Group

PoPIA Act

schools to face penalties

Argantic

Introducing a unique meeting room solution

Awards Submissions MIW & Titans 2021 Awards Submissions & Nominations NOW OPEN

st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

Expand your Business Horizon

YEARS 2001 - 2021

My legacy is a Culture for Lucy Akua Kyerede Quainoo, Director for MEL Consulting, Ghana

Vol 21 Issue 1

Proudly celebrating

st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

Expand your Business Horizon

YEARS 2001 - 2021

Expand your Business Horizons

REGULARS 06 14

EDITOR'S NOTE LEADING EDGE - WE SPEAK TO LUCY AKUA KYEREDE QUAINOO, A DIRECTOR FOR MEL CONSULTING

LEADING EDGE

MEL CONSULTING DIRECTOR - MY LEGACY IS A CULTURE FOR CHANGE P/14

EXCLUSIVE

PROVIDING A BETTER EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE

We talk to TROYE CEO Helen Kruger about businesses focusing on operational efficiency while investing in the future. P/50

NEWS 10

POPIA - TIME IS UP

PICUP - CHANGING THE FACE OF DELIVERIES

MOVING AWAY FROM PHYSICAL OFFICES TO DESKTOP

ARGANTIC - TRAINING AUTHORITY

NEW CYBEREASON RANSOMWARE STUDY

BEWARE OF POST OFFICE SCAMS

REVIEW

OPINION

THE NEW KAWASAKI ZH2

OLD ELECTRONICS COST MORE THAN NEW

Viishnu Sighn test drives this impressionable bike P/61

Xperien CEO Wale Arewa shares his thoughts on stretching IT budgets P/40

FEATURES 28

CAAS MOVING TO CONTENT AS A SERVICE

MOTOR MANUFACTURERS OVERCOMING HURDLES IN AFRICA

MIW AWARDS SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

TITANS AWARDS SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN

No article or part of an article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher. The information provided and opinions expressed in this publication are provided in good faith but do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher or editor. All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the publication. However, neither the publisher not the editor can be held legally liable in any way for damages of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from any facts or information provided or omitted in these pages, or from any statements made in or withheld by this publication WWW.CEOGLOBALGROUP.COM

Expand your Business Horizons

EXCLUSIVE 08

ABX - BUILDING A LEGACY THROUGH GROWTH XCELERATION

IN VIOLATION OF COMMON SENSE - BY FLOWSTATE80 CEO MARK KAYSER

EMPOWERING TRANSFORMATION LEADERS BY PROFESSOR OWEN SKA, DIRECTOR AT RHODES BUSINESS SCHOOL

OPINION PIECES 35

THE FUTURE OF TELEPHONY

IS YOUR WEBSITE POPIA COMPLIANT?

EDUCATING REMOTE WORKERS ON CYBERSECURITY

OLD ELECTRONICS COST MORE THAN NEW

MALWARE, THE BIGGEST THREAT

REVIEWS 61

THE KAWASAKI Z H2

BMW M440I COUPE

THE MAHINDRA KAROO

Publisher: CEO Global Group Phone: +27828834901 www.ceoglobalgroup.com Chief Executive Annelize Wepener annelize@ceoglobalgroup.com Chief Operating Officer George Wepener george@ceoglobalgroup.com Director Finance & Corporate Services Carl Wepener carl@ceoglobalgroup.com Head of Production/Creative Manager Lynn Richards - Rubix Cube Digital lynn@rubixcubedigital.co.za Corporate Support Yvonne Finch yvonne@yvonnefinch.com

st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

Expand your Business Horizon

YEARS 2001 - 2021

EDITORSNOTE

Does the Solution lie

eton s'rotid

with Africa's people?

can go a long way if we can adapt Stokills the new post COVID era. I have had to listen to several discussions regarding Africa’s lack of economic development and listening to experts in the field, most people tend to agree. However, I do agree that the solution lies with Africa’s people. To develop the economy, irrespective of what sector, we need to stop putting hurdles up for our citizens and our neighbouring countries. We have to focus and learn how to deal with our economic challenges more intelligently.

Entrepreneurship is the panacea for most of our financial woes that is now much worse due to the fallout of COVID. There is no substitute for embracing the current hurdles brought on by COVID and adapting to the “new” normal that will shape the future. It now takes real talent to be creative and spot the opportunities that can make us financially successful and sustain our enterprises. We have to embrace every possible technology to market and build a new way of doing business.

All countries, governments and corporates must help with the development of the Continent as a whole.

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EDITORSNOTE

It is believed that this is where entrepreneurship in Africa is seriously challenged. I disagree as the

young population is already embracing new technology and thus are equipping themselves to succeed. I believe that what is critically needed is that established entrepreneurs acknowledge new technology and together with our young people assist in changing the financial landscape to fully grasp and model future business initiatives accordingly. COVID has left a vacuum as it disrupted all of our well-laid plans and procedures that brought success in the past. Entrepreneurs must play a positive role in enterprise development. What is lacking is corporate, entrepreneurs and individuals to focus on taking new ideas to the next level. All countries, governments and corporates must help with the development of the Continent as a whole. Sound business practices must never be ignored, nor must new technology be seen as frivolous as it will be shaping the economic and financial future of our Continent. I for one cannot see why the African business landscape cannot overcome the challenges and grow our markets to become, not only self-sufficient but also delivering solutions to the rest of the world.

It is believed that this is where entrepreneurship in Africa is seriously challenged. I disagree as the young population is already embracing new technology and thus are equipping themselves to succeed.

st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

Expand your Business Horizon

YEARS 2001 - 2021 ceo 2021 l Vol 1

EXCLUSIVE

BUILDING A LEGACY THROUGH GROWTH XCELERATION

Lynn Richards & Tyron Reddy

AFRICA INSPIRED BUILD A LEGACY XCELERATE YOUR GROWTH At ABX we are passionate about the wealth of our continent – its People and are focused on inspiring and growing businesses and leaders in Africa.

position

your personal, business and corporate journeys and ensure you build a powerful, prosperous & inspiring legacy.

grow

your

products,

agility and expand your markets using proven

business

systems,

frameworks,

mindsets and processes. Leveraging expert industry knowledge and the essential do’s don’ts

from

years

successful

execution and transformation to achieve your goals at speeds. In partnership with CEO Global Group, ABX is bringing its platform of globally recognized

ABX is an eco-system of global and local subject matter experts and collaborations successful

you

services and revenue at speed, pivot with

and

Our core purpose is to Accelerate you through

with

ABX along-side our industry experts will

like-minded

individuals,

leaders and businesses giving you access to industry experts, partners, coaches, mentors and collaboration opportunities that will take your business to the next level.

speakers, trainers, business accelerators and mentors to Africa. ABX will elevate your business, corporate, start-up or personal brand with the growth hacking tools you need to inspire Africa, build a legacy and Xcelerate your growth.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

EXCLUSIVE

The CEO Global Group is celebrating 21 years of operating across the African continent and internationally. Our dedication to the development, growth and future success of the African continent has always been at the core of everything we do. But none of this is possible without strong partners. Our focus for the growth of the continent as a whole is to focus on its people, and specifically the people who make this continent great. People who go out of their way to give back to society, people who make it their life goal to grow communities,

grow their companies and lead their government & country. We all know that Africa is the last frontier, and we are not talking about gold, silver or platinum. The natural resources we are interested in are the minds of the people in all regions. Our partnerships with the CEO Global Group proves our commitment to the continent. Through Business Acceleration and mentorship, we aim to impact and empower every business owner, corporate leader and entrepreneur with the skills and tools they need to accelerate and innovate ideas, grow and scale their businesses, and build a lasting legacy.

"Our partnership with Lynn Richards and Tyron Reddy from ABX mirrors our values and vision in every way, and we could not be more proud to team up with these exceptional young minds to continue the work we have done over the last 2 decades. It is the perfect fit for our 21st anniversary” Annelize Wepener, Chief Executive Officer CEO Global Group

st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

Expand your Business Horizon

YEARS 2001 - 2021 ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

PoPIA: Time Is Up

T he countdown is on, the Protection of Personal

Information Act (PoPIA) comes into full effect on 1 July 2021. With the deadline looming, there is a lot of confusion and ambiguity regarding its definitions, requirements and enforcement thereof. Failure to comply will result in steep fines for violators. Businesses have had ample time to prepare, but many are now scrambling to become compliant. They have realised that the impact is enormous, significant and unresolved personal data protection issues could result in financial penalties. PoPIA regulates the usage and collection of personal data. Companies are required to handle all data carefully and provide customers with tools to update or delete personal information. They also need to alert consumers immediately if there is any form of breach. PoPIA affects everyone, from financial institutions, data management companies, media companies, marketers and consumers. This means everyone should be aware of the Act and consequences for breaking the rules. Penalties Many businesses are unaware of the risks, but unfortunately ignorance of the law is no excuse. They will be liable should any breach occur. The penalties are severe, non-compliance could incur fines of up to R10-million or even imprisonment.

by Xperien CEO Wale Arewa

This person needs to be registered with the information regulator as a primary contact in case of any breach investigation. More importantly, the information officer will be responsible and face the consequences for any breaches. Data protection IT disposal has legislative requirements, compliance to PoPIA, the National Environmental Waste Management Act 2008 (NEMWA 2008), the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Compliance affects everyone from employee, suppliers and third-party data, as well as the systems that process it and how it is retained and destroyed. It includes the way personal information is stored, handled, processed, protected and who has access to it. Companies need to disclose what information is being gathered and how it will be stored. This could include staff records, ID numbers, drivers' licenses, medical history or financial information.

Information officer Every company needs to appoint an information officer that will be responsible for compliance.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

Data disposal With companies constantly acquiring new technologies, there is a corresponding and often overlooked increase in retired IT assets. These outdated PCs, laptops, monitors and other IT equipment tend to quietly pile up in storerooms. According to legislation, businesses are required to manage the complete destruction of all data when IT assets reach end-of-life. PoPIA requires IT asset managers to practice due diligence and ensure their storerooms go through the expected data erasure techniques essential to protect company data. Competitive advantage Compliance is fast becoming a competitive advantage. Customers don’t want to be put at risk, data breaches and issues related to regulatory compliance, associated costs and loss of reputation will have dire consequences for businesses that suffer data breaches.

Our value proposition is to protect our clients’ personal information and intellectual property that resides on their computers during technology changes and at end-of-service. We manage our client’s enterprise and desktop infrastructure in a sustainable manner - across the globe. Logistical solutions are tailored to cater for our clients’ geographical spread and to negate the ever-present risk of hard-drive theft from dispositioned computers. Xperien provides cost-effective solutions to combat the challenges associated with data loss and to mitigate reputational risk. Our compliance meets the NIST 800-88, DoD 5220.22-M and CEGS criteria, particularly in terms of data-destruction processes, while adherence to the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013 (POPIA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is core to our business.

More about Xperien (www.xperien.com) Join the Circular Economy - Reducing the global e-waste problem and optimising the lifecycle of IT hardware.

Companies need to

Xperien (Pty) Ltd is a leading South African IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) company. We are a passionate team of professionals who care about our planet, its people and its resources.

information is being

From humble beginnings 21 years ago as a used computer dealer, we strive to make our contribution by redefining the way corporations use IT hardware. We provide our clients with secure ITAD services and have obtained ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 accreditations specifically for ITAD.

disclose what gathered and how it will be stored. This could include staff records, ID numbers, drivers' licenses, medical history or financial information.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

CHANGING

the face of deliveries

Branded deliveries through Picup, a crowdsource delivery and tech company, is now possible. The innovative last mile delivery company has introduced a unique concept where its drivers become the face of any specific brand

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Picup has become a model for innovation in the courier

and logistics space, and is consistently predicting niches in the market and developing its software and driver framework to accommodate growing needs. Until now, companies that are fully eCommerce have almost no face-to-face interaction with their customers. However, Picup is changing this by introducing its premium driver network for businesses. Picup Plus is a premium service aimed at businesses that require drivers to represent their brand. Picup Plus was specifically designed for business

clients

experience

that align

require with

the

their

delivery customer

experience strategies. Picup Head of Operations and HR Ashley Arendse gives us a closer look at this new division of Picup, set to launch in June 2021. “The innovation did not stop when the country went into lockdown during the pandemic.” “In fact, it allowed the team to flesh out yet another layer of their manifold success, the Picup Plus

driver

model.

were

inspired

customers who were looking for drivers to represent their brand and act as not only drivers, but brand ambassadors,” he adds. Words Ivor van Rensburg

Solving the last mile problem one picup at a time. We’re changing the face of logistics with a dedicated team, state-of-the-art technology and an innovative approach to delivery. We don’t own our fleet, we don’t own warehouses, we don’t own huge overheads. We empower our drivers and allow them to earn optimally when it’s convenient for them.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

Picup

Plus works on a strict selection basis when measuring driver performance. This comprises key factors like experience, track record, internal ratings and regular customer feedback. These drivers already have a key understanding of how Picup works, their individual clients’ needs, as well as the company culture and current focus areas. They are groomed so that they understand everything about the brand so that they can present those values and processes when they interact with the customer. Picup’s sophisticated technology and AI modules have been developed in a way that promotes good behaviors and the willingness to work. Arendse adds: “While we need to maintain good level of supply and demand to the driver network, we need to ensure we are rewarding drivers that are going the extra mile and want to earn more.” Drivers with higher ratings will get preference on trips, which drives positive behavior through the network. They will offer guaranteed trustworthiness, as well as a lasting positive impression on collection and delivery. Arendse says every Picup Plus driver will undergo extensive training through the Picup eLearning platform and attend virtual workshops. “Picup is also open to collaborating on custom driver branding. This means that drivers could have shirts and caps that reflect both Picup as well as the corporate identity of the company for which they are delivering.” Picup Plus can now also introduce specialised offerings such as facilitating payments or ID verification on delivery. Picup Pay which will be launched shortly, it will allow credit card and Snapscan payments on delivery. ‘Picup Legend Network’ is a term that has become synonymous with Picup’s virtual driver culture, streamlined crowdsourced recruitment process and its strong focus on on-demand gratification. For more information visit http://www.picup.co.za or email info@picup.co.za

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

LEADINGEDGE-MEL

My legacy is a Culture for

In this edition of CEO Global Magazine we speak to Lucy Akua Kyerede Quainoo, director for MEL Consulting, Ghana. She is an exceptional and respected leader whose energy and commitment see her taking on challenges that are rarely seen. She has always stood firm in her beliefs and stood firmly accountable for the projects she takes on. Her ambitions to better Ghana and the rest of the Continent and especially the upliftment of women in every economic sector is applaudable. She is a respectful, dedicated, ethical, driven person that inspires others through her knowledge and tenacity.

Ghana as an investment destination is due to mainly two reasons: Political stability that Ghana has enjoyed democratic rule since 1992, has given confidence to the international community that we developed in our democratic processes and serve as an example to other African countries. Secondly, Ghana is endowed with natural resources from good vegetation, favourable weather, minerals, recently oil and many more. Thus raw materials for most industries can be sourced locally. This coupled with the stable political environment makes Ghana the gateway to Africa.

Globally there is renewed interest in Africa as an investment destination. How do you think the continent can capitalise on this opportunity? Africa can capitalise on this development in many ways namely: Building Infrastructure in all economic sectors to facilitate growth. Empowering MSMEs to promote the MADE in Africa agenda to spur economic growth. Develop the educational system properly to meet the unique needs of the continent to prevent brain drain, economic strife, and political stability through equal opportunities. To empower the youth to be entrepreneurial, to create jobs, wealth and reduce poverty to build our Agricultural and Agribusiness sectors to be the foundation of an Industrial Africa. To ensure that AFCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) is a force to reckon with in International Trade and Development in both the product and services sectors.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

LEADINGEDGE-MEL

She has always stood firm in her beliefs and stood firmly accountable for the projects she takes on. Infrastructure

investment is often highly prized on

There is a lot of angst and concern around the

the continent. Yet, there is also significant demand

rise of technology and the impact it will have

for a variety of human development skills. How do

on job security and the role of humans in the

you think investment can be attracted into this field?

working world of the future. How do you think Africa can get the most out of the impact of

The Human development sector can be made

technology and creating work opportunities

attractive for investment by once more developing

for its people?

the AFCFTA to be a Trade, investment, and Development hub championing the made in Africa agenda. This may be done through promoting vocational skills with the same interest as academic skills, and formalizing the MSME informal economy through interventions that promote entrepreneur growth such as enabling businesses to grow through access to finance and markets.

I nvestors

are often attracted to an investment

opportunity based on the calibre of business leadership in a sector. What do you think the characteristics of good business leadership are? The characteristics of good business leadership

Technology in itself is about developing scientific tools to help us as human beings in our existence. It is the improper and unethical use of technology that causes problems. With the proper technological tools in all functional areas of our lives, everyone can make the best out of its benefits. In Africa, proper education, access, and affordability can bring great strides to our socio-economic growth as people in various development sectors. For example, in Agriculture and Agribusiness, technological advancement of activities along various value chains can spur growth and lead to economic development through job creation and poverty alleviation.

include empathy to promote human development and socio-economic empowerment of all people. Charisma to promote your agenda emphatically through motivation and selflessness. Reliability and trustworthiness encourages leadership by

Her ambitions to better Ghana and the rest of the Continent and especially the upliftment of women in every economic sector is applaudable.

example, hardworking and also smart working to enhance effectiveness and efficiency. Selflessness encourages loyalty and dedication of followers. Moral uprightness also convinces people to follow your word and example.

She is a respectful, dedicated, ethical, driven person that inspires others through her knowledge and tenacity.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

LEADINGEDGE-MEL

"I would want the MSME sector to be empowered enough to grow and sustain the AFCFTA African Continental Free Trade Area" What is the most important lesson you have learned When the time comes for you to move on to championing Ghanaian and African investment?

The most important lesson I have learned is to be in touch with the grassroots and various demographic segments concerning income, age and culture to make the right choices of investment opportunities and also to be able to communicate real-life scenarios to investors. There is the need to be able to communicate our traditional cultures to the world within the right context to promote synergy and collaboration of all stakeholders in an investment opportunity.

fresh opportunities, what legacy do you hope to leave behind in the business community? I would want the MSME sector to be empowered enough to grow and sustain the AFCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) and to grow the sector to be effective in all of the African countries.

"Technology in itself is about developing scientific tools to help us as human beings in our existence. It is the improper and unethical use of technology that causes problems."

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

EXCLUSIVE

AFRICA BUSINESS XCELERATION WELCOMES KANE & ALESSIA MINKUS AWARD-WINNING ENTREPRENEURS AND INVESTORS 3 times international best-selling authors, Awardwinning entrepreneurs and investors Kane and Alessia Minkus have trained over 500 000 entrepreneurs and business owners in over 31 Countries on how to grow and scale their businesses. In 2007 Kane and Alessia founded Industry Rockstar which is now the world's largest business training and investment company for conscious business owners. They wanted a way of giving back the world-class advising and mentoring they had received from some of the world's best entrepreneurs to help tip the planet towards conscious capitalism. Today along with the industry Rockstar advisor and investor dream team, they mentor and partner with over 1000 companies every single year. Having presented over 2000 business systems and success psychology presentations, Kane and Alessia have been invited to speak at prestigious

international universities, corporations and Think Tanks globally like the Harvard Club of Boston, India School of Business, Flame University, Berkeley School of Music and World Trade Centre's all around the world. They have also partnered with massive entrepreneurs like Sir Richard Branson - founder of the Virgin Group; Kevin Harrington - the original shark from the TV show Shark Tank; Randi Zuckerberg from Zuckerberg Media and founder of Facebook Live; and Vishen Lakhiani founder of Mind Valley, to bring evolutionary education to the world's entrepreneurs. They have personally been invited to share the stage with the world's leading thinkers and entrepreneurs like Tony Robbins, Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Tim Ferriss, Lisa Nichols and John DeMartini. They have consulted or coached massive brands like Sony, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, SanDisk and Apple.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

EXCLUSIVE

GLOBALLY RECOGNISED THOUGHT LEADERS “Keep evolving, keep thinking, keep pushing yourself. Stay on top of it.” Alessia Minkus

PROVEN STRATEGIES

Uncover The Secrets To Being A Charismatic Closer, Powerful Presenter, And Solid

KANE & ALESSIA'S

dollars (USD) in revenue from

INSPIRATION FOR ASPIRING LEADERS

60 different companies. Kane and Alessia have been featured in over 330 magazines, TV Shows and publications including major news stations like NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Channel News Asia, Hindu Times and Entrepreneur magazine. As philanthropists they have raised over USD $5 million for charity around the planet including for groups like Amnesty International, International Virgin Unite, SurfAid, Asha Global and HeartKids. Kane - “We train entrepreneurs,

Speaker On and off the stage

The Industry Rockstar senior partners have generated a combined total over $2 Billion

business owners, professionals, executives and leaders in the skills to be able to communicate a powerful message and be able to move their business forward, motivate people and monetize your value.”

Keep an eye on the ABX social channels for all the event updates

In the last 20 years the Industry Rockstar team have produced over 2000 events, and given thousands of presentations. We've really decoded the systems and framework of giving a powerful presentation that causes people to take action so that you can build your business or more things forward. Combined the Industry Rockstar speaking team have reached over 1 Billion people globally, generated over $2 Billion in revenue in over 50 countries across the globe. Look out for more details in our next issue on how to join our events to connect and learn from these amazingly talented and experienced business mentors.

Join our community today Mail us on community@abxgroup.africa

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

Moving away

from physical offices to Desktops as A Service by Troye CEO Helen Kruger

Businesses are adopting long-term solutions to empower employees with new flexible work policies.

Desktops

as a Service (DaaS) is fast becoming the preferred option for many businesses as they move away from physical office spaces to remote working environments. Business leaders are now also re-evaluating ways to enhance security and employee experience for their workforce. Many businesses are adopting long-term solutions to empower employees with new flexible work policies. As a result, we see an increasing need to scale up quickly while providing a secure, productive environment to meet long-term demands for flexibility. This is where DaaS brings value to IT. Many industries have long been interested in adopting a simplified desktop management solution that delivers access to virtual apps and desktops to any device securely from anywhere; but often complexity and capital investment have kept companies from moving forward with full implementation. Citrix’s DaaS solutions provide a simple virtual apps and desktop experience that can be delivered on demand. With Citrix providing the management of infrastructure as well as updates, patching, and resources to host the workloads, our customers find it easy to deploy apps and desktops globally.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

In addition, with DaaS, cloud infrastructure enables customers to pay for services on a consumption basis — paying as they use the service, instead of investing capital spending on servers, networking, and storage. Citrix provides virtual desktops on any mobile device or operating system to give staff the flexibility to be productive from anywhere. It's DaaS can be delivered on demand and is adaptive to the needs of various employee groups. More importantly, the pay-as-you-go model makes it a cost-effective solution for any size company.

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NEWS

DaaS Delivered with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops While there are many DaaS vendors that support the delivery of a basic desktop image, many IT experts choose Citrix for its ability to deliver agility, strong security, and great experience to users. Agility With the ability to deliver Windows and Linux apps and desktops quickly to any device around the world, one can deliver the targeted set of applications to each employee depending on their needs. Citrix makes it easy to scale up apps and desktops to meet user demand and can be scaled down easily when no longer needed. Citrix provides ready-to-go templates for operating system images with the latest updates, making it easy to deploy workloads on demand. The Citrix management plane also makes it easy to customize those templates, or even import your own images as needed. Security Only Citrix offers enhanced security that virtualisation brings with having one's data safely stored in the cloud and not on the device and can also set advanced security policies like restricting screen captures, USB storage access, and copy/paste to meet strict guideline requirements to protect company data. Citrix also supports your preferred identity providers including Okta, Google, Azure Active Directory, and more to help prevent unauthorised access. User Experience Citrix offers unique HDX high-definition protocol, which gives users a great experience no matter which device they are using to connect. With HDX, Citrix can deliver a high performing interactive experience with optimisations for lowbandwidth or high-latency connections.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

This allows audio calls to sound clear and videos to play seamlessly and gives users the productive environment they need to get their work done. Citrix provides an optimised Microsoft Teams experience on Windows, Linux or Mac OS and also supports other communication solutions such as Zoom, Cisco WebEx, and Slack with a great experience every time. Embrace the Cloud of Choice Citrix DaaS integrates with all the major public cloud vendors, giving customers the most flexibility and versatility. As technology has evolved from server-based computing (SBC) to virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to desktops as a service (DaaS), Citrix has partnered with its customers to prioritise their feedback, listen to their guidance, and deliver high-performance cloud services designed to meet their business needs. More about Troye (www.troye.co.za) Troye is a leading 51% Black Women-Owned Level 2 BEE Information Technology solutions specialist and professional managed IT services provider. Over the past decade, Troye has designed and implemented superior integrated IT solutions for its small, medium and enterprise customers concentrating on end-to-end virtualisation solutions. Troye invests heavily in its customers through exceptional service excellence. This ensures a better understanding of the customer’s business and their technology requirements. More importantly, it enables customers to focus on their core business activities with the assurance that their investment in technology is safeguarded. Troye focuses on minimising both cost and risk, maximising return on investment, driving innovation and safeguarding their customer’s business for the future. Company: Troye Contact: Helen Kruger, CEO Tel: (011) 705-2757 Email: helen@troye.co.za ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

rgantic

helps training authority on its digital journey

Microsoft partner Argantic has successfully helped a public sector training authority on its digital journey. The entity required tools like Microsoft 365 to improve its efficiency and collaboration internally and externally.

Argantic director Garry Ackerman

Microsoft 365 has improved collaboration throughout the entity, they can now easily share documents and other files without being concerned about the size. This includes allowing them to also enable external stakeholders to upload large files without having to worry about security and unauthorised access to their environment. Some of the solutions that were implemented to help them address a lot of challenges, that required human intervention but are now automated, included Microsoft Teams, OneDrive for Business, Endpoint Manager, Mobile Device Management, Advance Threat Protection and Exchange. Argantic also ensured the client was able to strengthen its security during these times where many institutions are affected by cyberattacks. The client says the project was completed according to their expectation and they even saved costs in the process. This was largely due to them realising that they could leverage on the features they had procured to replace other services that had the same offering but were decentralised.

Argantic director Garry Ackerman says he is extremely proud to receive so many compliments. “The client said they would recommend our very friendly and knowledgeable team in future. The team was commended for always being available to assist and for responding promptly to queries and other related services.”

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

Some of the solutions that were implemented to help them address a lot of challenges, that required human intervention but are now automated, included Microsoft Teams, OneDrive for Business, Endpoint Manager, Mobile Device Management, Advance Threat Protection and Exchange.

O ne of the added benefits highlighted by the

Microsoft Teams Enterprise virtual “office spaces” business application software solutions allow for remote communication with one-touch join, easy content sharing and centre-of-room control. MS Teams offers both asynchronous and synchronous communication channels.

client was that they did not need to procure endpoint protection, patch management, mobile device management, encryption, Windows OS software and much more. This was due to constant feedback throughout the project, which ensured the client was well-informed and happy with the process. Argantic director Garry Ackerman says Microsoft Teams virtual office enables teams to stay connected and get Commenting on the service, the customers more done in the process. stated: "Argantic delivered on time and within budget. All our expectations were met and even Microsoft Teams makes virtual interactions more beyond. The advisory team assisted us to realise natural, more engaging, and ultimately, more human. more value from the services we procured.” It’s all about enabling people everywhere to collaborate, to stay connected, and to discover new “More impressively, Argantic’s engineers are ways to be productive from anywhere." highly experienced and they involved us throughout the project as part of their skills Logitech's solutions seamlessly integrate with leading transfer strategy," they concluded. workflow tools to assure fast return on investment and provide users with great collaboration experiences. Strategic partners like Argantic offer complete video Introducing a unique meeting room solution conferencing solutions that create great user Argantic has partnered with Logitech to experiences and high-performing workplaces. provide video conferencing meeting room solutions that support Microsoft Teams, Zoom Customisable features allow every team to reshape and Google Meetings. Customers can now their working environment to improve efficiency and transform any space into a Microsoft Teams increase productivity. An intelligent communication meeting place. system allows for automation, notification settings and Logitech works with its partners to deliver exceptional user experiences through integrated and complementary products that are easy to use and install. Through this partnership, it can now offer affordable video conferencing solutions that are optimised for any business.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

a chatbot to provide additional support. Ackerman says Logitech and Microsoft allow you to easily and affordably connect wherever you are so everyone can work together as if they’re in the same room. "Businesses of all sizes can transform collaboration with simple, affordable and beautifully designed products from Logitech and Microsoft."

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

A single interface can take you from a 10 people chat

conference to a 10 000 people video conference with a touch of a button. We can set up your Business Microsoft Teams virtual office and allow your team to stay connected and get more done in the process," he concludes. More about Argantic (https://argantic.co.za/) Argantic aims to help organisations thrive and reach their full potential in a modern cloud-centric era. Argantic was founded 9 years ago with the aim to focus on delivering software and infrastructure services to the corporate and enterprise business market. The company was founded by two ambitious South Africans with a simple promise – to make a difference. This has resulted in the formation of a company staffed with a highly successful business and technical skills that focused on delivering software and infrastructure services to the corporate and enterprise business market. Contact: Deslin Pillay Email: Deslinp@argantic.co.za Cell: +27 83-713-5150

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Customisable features allow every team to reshape their working environment to improve efficiency and increase productivity. An intelligent communication system allows for automation, notification settings and a chatbot to provide additional support.

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NEWS

New Study Reveals True Cost to Business 80% of organizations that paid a ransom demand were hit again, 66% reported significant loss of revenue

Cybereason,

the leader in future-ready attack protection, today released research findings from a global ransomware study of nearly 1,300 security professionals that reveals more than half of organizations have been the victim of a ransomware attack, and that 80 percent of businesses that chose to pay a ransom demand suffered a second ransomware attack, often at the hands of the same threat actor group The report, titled Ransomware: The True Cost to Business, also divulged that of the organizations who opted to pay a ransom demand in order to regain access to their encrypted systems, 46 percent reported that some or all of the data was corrupted during the recovery process. These findings underscore why it does not pay to pay ransomware attackers, and that organizations should focus on early detection and prevention strategies to end ransomware attacks at the earliest stages before critical systems and data are put in jeopardy

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Key findings in the research include: Loss of Business Revenue: 66 percent of organizations reported significant loss of revenue following a ransomware attack Ransom Demands Increasing: 35 percent of businesses that paid a ransom demand shelled out between $350,000-$1.4 million, while 7 percent paid ransoms exceeding $1.4 million Brand and Reputation Damage: 53 percent of organizations indicated that their brand and reputation were damaged as a result of a successful attack C-Level Talent Loss: 32 percent of organizations reported losing C-Level talent as a direct result of ransomware attacks Employee Layoffs: 29 percent reported being forced to layoff employees due to financial pressures following a ransomware attack Business Closures: A startling 26 percent of organizations reported that a ransomware attack forced the business to close down operations entirely

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

Getting in front of the threat by adopting a prevention-first strategy for early detection will allow organizations to stop disruptive ransomware before they can hurt the business.” The full report can be found here: https://www.cybereason.com/ebookransomware-the-true-cost-to-business Cybereason is dedicated to teaming with defenders to end ransomware attacks on the endpoint, across enterprise, to everywhere the battle is taking place. Learn more about ransomware defense here or schedule a demo today to learn how your organization can benefit from an operation-centric approach to security.

Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Cybereason, Lior Div.

Other key findings included in the full report reveal the extent to which losses to the business may be covered by cyber insurance, how prepared organizations are to address ransomware threats to the business with regard to adequate security policies and staffing, and more granular information on the impact of ransomware attacks by region, company size and industry vertical.

In addition, the report provides actionable data on the types of security solutions organizations had in place prior to an attack, as well as which solutions were most often implemented by organizations after they experienced a ransomware attack. “Ransomware attacks are a major concern for organizations across the globe, often causing massive business disruptions including the loss of income and valuable human resources as a direct result. In the case of the recent Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, disruptions were felt up and down the East Coast of the United States and negatively impacted other businesses who are dependent on Colonial’s operations,” said Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Cybereason, Lior Div. “Paying a ransom demand does not guarantee a successful recovery, does not prevent the attackers from hitting the victim organization again, and in the end only exacerbates the problem by encouraging more attacks.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Survey Methodology The research was conducted by Censuswide in April of 2021 on behalf of Cybereason. 1,263 cybersecurity professionals took part in the survey —with participants from the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, United Arab Emirates, and Singapore. Major industry verticals covered in the research include the Technology, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Retail, Healthcare, Automotive, Legal and Government sectors.

About Cybereason Cybereason is the champion for today’s cyber defenders providing future-ready attack protection that unifies security from the endpoint, to the enterprise, to everywhere the battle moves. The Cybereason Defense Platform combines the industry’s top-rated detection and response (EDR and XDR), next-gen anti-virus (NGAV), and proactive threat hunting to deliver context-rich analysis of every element of a Malop (malicious operation). The result: defenders can end cyber attacks from endpoints to everywhere. Cybereason is a privately held, international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 30 countries. Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/ Media Contacts: Bill Keeler Senior Director, Global Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler@cybereason.com

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

Moving

OpEd

to Content as a Service (CaaS) by Bluegrass CEO Nick Durrant

Content as a Service (CaaS) is gaining popularity in the customer experience space as brands jostle for market share. Marketers are seeking innovative ways to get the right content in front of potential customers and to manage the increasing number of digital touchpoints throughout the customer journey.

With CaaS all content is stored in its original format. Various digital platforms like websites, smartphones and apps can access this content and present it by using an application programming interface (API), as CaaS separates the content from formatting.

M arketers are seeking innovative ways to get

Headless CMS Headless CMS – also known as an API-first CMS – is growing in popularity as it separates the user experience from the backend platform. It's a CMS without a built-in frontend that determines how or where content is displayed.

the right content in front of potential customers and to manage the increasing number of digital touchpoints throughout the customer journey. Content as a Service (CaaS) is gaining popularity in the customer experience space as brands jostle for market share.

In the digital world, marketers need to understand the power of content and redesign their strategies to include voice, video, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to continue reaching consumers. However, for marketers it could be challenging to manage and deliver content to multiple channels effectively. In trying to reach these digital touchpoints it remains a challenge to present the same content to different devices and platforms. Although traditional Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress store all content in one place, there are limitations as to where and how this content can be used, and as such one needs to create a unique version for each platform.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Nick Durrant, Bluegrass CEO

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OpEd

Being able to provide targeted, personalised content is crucial in boosting brand loyalty, increasing sales conversions and increasing revenues. CaaS enables marketers to achieve this by removing the manual processes of personalising content and allowing marketers to create content dynamically, so that it can be personalised at the modular level.

True Headless CMS is built from the ground up, using APIs to deliver content to omnichannel apps and devices. It works as a central content hub, making it the perfect solution for marketers to create content and quickly publish it to multiple channels, platforms, and devices. As a result, many traditional CMS systems like WordPress have released headless versions of their software. WordPress offers a powerful open API to build web apps, combining its peerless content management with the power and flexibility of JavaScript front-end interfaces. Speed and flexibility CaaS with headless CMS is a minimum requirement in content publishing today as it provides the speed and flexibility required in the current fast paced business environment. By separating the formatting from the content, CaaS further enables marketers to gain control over what they intend to publish so that they can easily reuse it across various platforms Personalised content Being able to provide targeted, personalised content is crucial in boosting brand loyalty, increasing sales conversions and increasing revenues. CaaS enables marketers to achieve this by removing the manual processes of personalising content and allowing marketers to create content dynamically, so that it can be personalised at the modular level. Words Ivor van Rensburg

To provide a unique customer experience, marketers can further integrate personalisation technologies like Optimizely and Salesforce Commerce Cloud to track and action visitor behaviour and geographic location. Smart tech Smart content architecture empowers marketers to deliver personal and scalable content on every single channel and device. As such, CaaS keeps content relevant in an omnichannel environment from websites to apps, chatbots, smartphones, smartwatches, home devices and voice assistants. About Bluegrass Digital (www.bluegrassdigital.com) Bluegrass Digital is a leading provider of digital solutions for business. We simplify tech. We help you architect and build digital products and services, ensuring you transform and succeed in a digital world. With over 20 years of engineering experience and proven track record, Bluegrass Digital offers expert knowledge and its unique offering that is centred on service delivery excellence. Contact: Nick Durrant (021) 671 1966 nick@bluegrassdigital.com ceo 2021 l Vol 1

beware

NEWS

of Post Office scams

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Cybersecurity firm J2 has warned against the rapid increase in Post Office scams, lulling unsuspecting people into believing there is a package for delivery. The email is made to look like a notification from the South African Post Office (SAPO) and prompts the recipient to make a payment to have the parcel delivered. J2 CEO John Mc Loughlin says the South African Post Office does not require customers to make any payment before parcels are released. “The cybercriminals bypass your email security by using a trusted service and website like Survey Monkey. If you click on the fake payment link, you are directed to the Survey Monkey page that the cybercriminal has created." "Most people don't realise this is a Survey Monkey site and they are then enticed to click to be redirected to the criminal’s fake payment page. You are then asked to insert your credit card details to make payment for your delivery. At this point the criminal will be stealing your credit card information," he explains. Once the person is redirected, the cyber criminal’s fake landing page will request payment. To make it look authentic, the criminal syndicates copy the logos of trusted South African payment gateways. This entire process is fake, these criminals are out to steal information. Their next step to complete the card theft is to get the person to enter the card PIN. Sadly, many people are still convinced this is real and when they enter their PIN, the criminal will have all they need to sell the card details and also use it.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

"The attacker will keep you there as they now have an automated process to not only steal your card number and PIN, but they will process a transaction if you've given them the correct details. The next step to process their stolen goods is to get your OTP," he warns. Cybersecurity firm J2 has warned against the rapid increase in Post Office scams, lulling unsuspecting people into believing there is a package for delivery. The email is made to look like a notification from the South African Post Office (SAPO) and prompts the recipient to make a payment to have the parcel delivered. J2 CEO John Mc Loughlin says the South African Post Office does not require customers to make any payment before parcels are released. “The cybercriminals bypass your email security by using a trusted service and website like Survey Monkey. If you click on the fake payment link, you are directed to the Survey Monkey page that the cybercriminal has created."

"Most people don't realise this is a Survey Monkey site and they are then enticed to click to be redirected to the criminal’s fake payment page. You are then asked to insert your credit card details to make payment for your delivery. At this point the criminal will be stealing your credit card information," he explains. Once the person is redirected, the cyber criminal’s fake landing page will request payment. To make it look authentic, the criminal syndicates copy the logos of trusted South African payment gateways. This entire process is fake, these criminals are out to steal information. ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

Their next step to complete the card theft is to get the person to enter the card PIN. Sadly, many people are still convinced this is real and when they enter their PIN, the criminal will have all they need to sell the card details and also use it. "The attacker will keep you there as they now have an automated process to not only steal your card number and PIN, but they will process a transaction if you've given them the correct details. The next step to process their stolen goods is to get your OTP," he warns. More about J2 (www.j2.co.za) J2 is a security focused African technology business founded in 2006 to address the need for effective cybersecurity, governance, risk and compliance solutions in Africa. The continued rise of cybercrime, identity theft and confidential data leakage drives the requirement for J2’s managed security service offerings, not only for competitive advantage, but as an absolute business necessity. The company offers managed cyber security services for every business. We ensure that you have greater visibility to identify risky behaviour and enhance the capability to respond to prevent losses. J2 delivers essential tools that empower organisations to take control of their technology spend. The company's hand-picked solutions provide complete visibility over its customers' environment, while reducing risk and lowering costs. J2 has provided services and solutions to renowned enterprise corporations with sites running in South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Australia, UK and Malta. On behalf of: Company: Contact: Designation: Tel: Email:

J2 John Mc Loughlin CEO (021) 461-1223 john@j2.co.za

J2 CEO John Mc Loughlin

Once the person is redirected, the cyber criminal’s fake landing page will request payment. To make it look authentic, the criminal syndicates copy the logos of trusted South African payment gateways. This entire process is fake, these criminals are out to steal information.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

New B2B app connects Bio-Oil brand community across the globe using

Microsoft Azure

Union Swiss has launched an Instagram-style mobile app that provides its global distributors with a platform that allows them to access news and information from Bio-Oil. The platform connects a community of independently owned companies across 154 countries. Not only can the Bio-Oil community share their own work and view the work of other distributors, but it enables the Union Swiss team to communicate with its extensive pool of distributors. Some of the key features include profiles for different distributors, a newsfeed where people can upload videos and photos, as well as a contact list detailing the different distributors across disparate regions.

extensive distributor network, eliminating the email and extranet correspondence that was commonplace in the past. "Our aim was to build a Bio-Oil community. We wanted to seamlessly connect everyone in a more contemporary, real-time way, which wouldn’t have been possible using more traditional communication,” she explains. Bluegrass Digital CEO Nick Durrant says they worked closely with Union Swiss team to develop a robust mobile app that encompasses and successfully portrays the professionalism and styling of the Union Swiss-owned Bio-Oil brand.

Bluegrass Digital designed and developed the new Instagram-style mobile app that provides quick and easy access to content. The project used an Agile methodology to deliver both the iOS and Android mobile app during the height of the pandemic. The back-office app services and API were architected on Microsoft Azure technology. Union Swiss CEO Kim Lombard says the app was designed to function as the only channel of communication between Union Swiss and their

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

NEWS

“The agile KANBAN framework allowed for the team to be flexible with an iterative UX and design process allowing us to use a phased approach in feature development,” he says. Lombard says they wanted to create a glass window so that the community could see into the business. “This would also allow us to experience what they were doing and how the strategy was translating in reality.” React Native was used for the mobile app development which provides the benefit of developing and maintaining in a single code based for Android and iOS releases. The API was built using .NET core and supported with Azure App Services. All the images and video content that distributors share on the app is hosted in Microsoft Azure. In a very short time, Union Swiss was able to get all its distributors onto the app and they are actively posting the work they do.

Contact: Nick Durrant (021) 671 1966 nick@bluegrassdigital.com

By creating an ecosystem where content can be shared, helps build a community and inspires others Bluegrass Digital is a leading provider of digital solutions for business. We simplify tech. We help you architect and build digital products and services, ensuring you transform and succeed in a digital world. With over 20 years of engineering experience and proven track record, Bluegrass Digital offers expert knowledge and its unique offering that is centred on service delivery excellence.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

OPINION: the future of telephony

Businesses are reluctant to upgrade their telephony because they have invested in costly infrastructure and onsite equipment. To make it more appealing, telephony providers are offering flexible solutions that can be deployed over existing infrastructure. by Argantic director Garry Ackerman

The fear of making wrong technology choices can

delay critical transitions to modern innovative technologies. Business leaders need to keep abreast of the ever-evolving telephony market because communications is a key drivers for modern businesses. However, businesses are reluctant to upgrade their telephony because they have invested in costly infrastructure and onsite equipment. To make it more appealing, telephony providers are offering flexible solutions that can be deployed over existing infrastructure. According to the Gartner 2020 Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) report, the unified communications (UC) market is making a fundamental shift from premises-based UC to cloud UCaaS. The report says by 2024, 74% of the new UC licenses purchased by organisations will be cloudbased, up from 48% in 2019. This is largely due to the fact that future cloud UC offerings will be far ahead in terms of features, functions, portals, analytics, and dashboards.

With no investment in infrastructure, Teams Voice is an obvious choice for any business, big or small. This cloud-based phone system offers all the flexibility, scalability and functionality of any modern phone system; and is accessible from a mobile device, computer or a desk phone anywhere. Teams Voice integrates with one's Office 365 login account, making it easy to receive business calls through multiple platforms. It is also a critical element when trying to transform to the modern Office environment. For a nominal fee, one can now make and receive calls. Teams Voice also offers advanced features including call transfer, multilevel auto attendants, call queues, direct routing, call groups and audio conferencing. As more and more employees are forced to work remotely, business leaders need to maintain productivity by deploying new innovative collaboration tools. Microsoft 365 has reached 30 billion daily collaboration minutes with over 115 million Microsoft Teams daily active users.

Microsoft’s cloud-based phone system add-on for Microsoft Office 365 is no doubt the future of telephony. Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

Gartner also noted that by 2022, 74% of organisations

OPINION

will move around 5% of their typically on-site workers into permanent remote working positions, making cloud solutions more crucial. Additionally, by 2023, 50% of large companies will connect with cloud providers using WAN direct cloud connectivity. Unified business communication systems can increase productivity, improve user engagement and facilitate collaboration. This has given birth to UCaaS, a clouddelivered unified communications model that supports various communications functions including enterprise telephony, video conferencing, meetings, unified messaging, instant messaging and mobility. UCaaS can save businesses a lot of time and money, especially when setting up their communications networks. They no longer have to acquire separate voice solutions, video and audio equipment or instant messaging software. Because it is cloud-based, another major advantage with UCaaS is that it can accessed from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection. There is no doubt that UCaaS has massive benefits. Small businesses can make their communication systems more robust whilst saving on telephone costs and larger organisations can use it to optimise their sales processes. Business leaders should keep an eye on telephony trends because it will continue to change the way the handle communications. For more information contact Argantic on +27 11 805 2518 or email sales@argantic.co.za or visit https://argantic.co.za/teams-voice/

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Argantic director Garry Ackerman

UCaaS can save businesses a lot of time and money, especially when setting up their communications networks

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OPINION

OPINION:

is your website POPIA compliant

by Bluegrass Digital CEO Nick Durrant

The

Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have a significant impact on websites and other digital platforms like social media, email marketing and e-commerce activities. Businesses have until 1 July 2021 to comply and to make their websites compliant.

Business websites must explicitly disclose if they

POPIA and GDPR are data privacy laws that affect all business websites that collect data. The regulations are there to protect the online privacy of visitors and it covers how personal data is used and extracted when users visit and interact with a website.

collected from them

Websites collect information in various ways and if a site uses analytics, opt-in forms, WordPress forms or email marketing, then they are collecting personal information. It is essential for businesses to obtain consent from visitors to collect and process their personal information. Without consent, they cannot share this information with their marketing team as these regulations have been designed to protect people against data breaches. To avoid massive fines and lawsuits, businesses need to comply by informing users about the data that their website collects. Here are some key areas that business leaders should review and discuss with their web development team.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

are collecting personal data. They must inform visitors about why, how and where they store and process this personal data Visitors may request a copy of the personal data

Visitors may request to have their personal data erased. Businesses must report serious breaches within 72 hours More importantly, they need to review all data collection points on their website. This could include the registration page, IP addresses, a checkout page and other analytics. It is critical to cover all these areas and to obtain consent to collect information WordPress The latest version of WordPress has built-in privacy and compliance features as part of its core. Merely by updating WordPress, one could ensure a higher level of compliance. Some new key features of WordPress include explicit consent, new data erase and export features and a policy generator. WordPress previously stored data to ensure that people did not have to retype their personal information when making a new comment. Now, people have to click a checkbox to ensure their personal data is stored and reused. ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

The data export and erase feature enables businesses to easily export a user's information into a .zip file or completely erase it from the database. This feature helps simplify managing visitor's personal information. WordPress also offers a privacy policy template that enables one to create an information page for visitors as to what data is stored and how the business manages it. WooCommerce WooCommerce also offers built-in tools to manage user privacy. One can enable the options for personal data retention, data erasure and a privacy policy. It is now easy to add the necessary information and disclosure to a WooCommerce privacy policy, especially related to shopping and payment security. Contact forms Visitors should be made aware that your site will collect their personal information when they complete any contact forms including registration forms and opt-in forms. One can easily create a tick box to accept the terms of service. Cookies One also needs to inform visitors that your website collects cookies. Notifications Businesses must inform visitors about any policy updates or data breaches, this can be done via email.

Online payments e-Commerce businesses likely use a payment gateway and your own website may be collecting personal data before passing it onto the payment gateway. If so, the regulations require you to remove any personal information after a reasonable period. Conclusion Compliance reassures visitors, they are likely to share personal information when they understand how your will use their information. Adding compliance policies will certainly benefit your business, it will prevent future data breaches and protect personal and company information. It will also ensure that visitors' personal information is not compromised.

Analytics Third-party services or plugins like Google Analytics and Google Adwords need to be managed correctly, one needs to anonymise the data before storage and processing. This could be complicated but there are POPIA and GDPR compliant plugins available, they automatically connect Google Analytics to your website and they can make data anonymisation easy.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

OPINION: Educating remote workers on Cybersecurity by cybersecurity expert and J2 CEO John Mc Loughlin

Cybercriminals have shifted their focus to vulnerable employees who now work from home and use personal internet connections. Business leaders need to educate remote workers on cybersecurity and better computer safety practices or risk having their data compromised. In a recent study by Microsoft, more than 25 percent of remote workers had personally experienced a cyberattack. This is largely as a result of employers being forced to quickly implement a remote work strategy and still not having the necessary security, privacy and workplace procedures in place to secure this new environment more than a year after hard lockdowns and work from home orders started around the world. While most businesses can invest in more robust data protection and security measures, it's their remote workers who can cause a potential disaster as a result of poor, inconsistent security policies and a lack of knowledge on what to look out for and how to behave in this online and hyperconnected world. The lack of effective processes or procedures could compromise critical data and cause disruption with serious consequences. With digital adoption accelerating, cybersecurity has become a key area of focus because many businesses have already suffered attacks infiltrating their networks or systems over the past year. This is largely due to the rapid shift between on-premises and remote working. It has required businesses to quickly ramp up their digital transformation efforts by adopting cloud computing and many have unfortunately not realised that the security controls they deploy in the office environment are not exactly the same as what is required in the new world of remote working. Words Ivor van Rensburg

Although some still view remote set-ups as temporary, most employees will most likely be allowed to work remotely in future. It is therefore important for businesses to make sure employees have the technology they need to be productive and know what it is that they need to do to remain secure. Prioritising cybersecurity Cyber criminals have become increasingly sophisticated over the past few years and businesses must remain cognisant of evolving threats if they want to protect their information assets. They need to design security controls that are not only effective against threats of today, but also provide the ability to adapt and provide protection against the unknown threats of tomorrow. Having the best firewall in place at the office doesn't provide protection against threats aimed at people working remotely. It is about more than just a mobile phone and laptop, it extends to reliable internet access, secure access and processes to attend virtual meetings and access data. More importantly, implementing an user-centric cyber resilience program that covers insider threats and ongoing user cyber security awareness training is crucial. Sometimes prioritising cybersecurity can be difficult if business executives consider it an unnecessary expense. Unfortunately they often don't always realise the extent of the losses that will come from a security breach. All it takes is one successful simple phishing scam to be the first step in a total breach and end up in data loss, ransomware or other extortion attempts.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

Most

companies, big or small, cannot afford extended downtime from a cyberattack, especially whilst trying to determine what sensitive data was stolen and which regulatory body, customer or supplier will need to be notified of the breach. Smaller businesses are even at bigger risk because the effects of a cyberattack could be more devastating for them and a data breach could mean the end for most start-ups. Educating employees Businesses just cannot afford to neglect user based activity monitoring and cybersecurity awareness training, it could be catastrophic. Education is key to ensuring that businesses are protected from cyberattacks. To be effective, the training must be consistent, engaging and provide real examples of what to look out for to make any difference. Engaging training and an easy-to-use platform will get staff talking about cybersecurity issues and discussion provides greater understanding. Business needs to hold everyone to the same standard for adopting cybersecurity protocols. Nobody should get a ‘free pass’ when it comes to cybersecurity awareness training because of their designation. Executives are ultimately responsible for the secure use of company assets and must ensure that nobody is allowed to break security protocols. Cybersecurity practices are sometimes seen as a burden and this could entice remote workers to find workarounds because they believe it might increase productivity. Open communication and practical security controls, with increased visibility, will drive good cybersecurity practices into the DNA of one's remote workforce. Ensuring total visibility will prevent mistakes, allow one to respond immediately to threats and ensure patches, training and other items are properly managed.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

With digital adoption accelerating, cybersecurity has become a key area of focus because many businesses have already suffered attacks infiltrating their networks or systems over the past year. This is largely due to the rapid shift between on-premises and remote working.

Visibility allows one to control compliance and cybersecurity issues and will give a view on anybody who may install unverified apps on their work devices, be sending sensitive or confidential work documents to personal email addresses or even sharing passwords. Work devices have now also become personal devices, remote workers also often let family members use their work computer for non-workrelated activities. Allowing family members to use a work devices could expose the entire corporate network to significant risk and every business needs to assess their policies and measure their risk exposure when personal activity is conducted on work devices. In certain instances, this might not be allowed at all and clearly explaining this to the users is critical. However, until one has visibility, there is no way of knowing what is really happening at the end-point, it will just be a guess. Guesswork is not a recommended method to ensure data security. Employers should make sure that they have visibility of what is really taking place with their data and on their systems to reduce their risk exposure. This is bolstered by educating their remote workers on what to look out for and how to identify potential breaches. While it’s near impossible to stay entirely secure, there are basic rules that remote workers can follow to reduce the risks in this new working environment and total visibility and monitoring gives you the capacity to respond to changes before damage is done. Having the best firewall in place at the office doesn't provide protection against threats aimed at people working remotely. It is about more than just a mobile phone and laptop, it extends to reliable internet access, secure access and processes to attend virtual meetings and access data. ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

OPINION:

Old electronics cost more than new by Xperien CEO Wale Arewa

Trying

to stretch the IT budgets by delaying or avoiding new equipment acquisitions may be tempting, but older equipment costs more to maintain. According to a Wipro survey, the optimal PC refresh lifecycle for both laptop and desktop PCs is three years.

Purchasing has the advantage of ownership and the associated tax benefits including the tax savings on the depreciation of equipment over their lifetime. However, owning IT assets means that businesses own the maintenance and repairs as well.

The analysis takes into account the cost of PC acquisition, the cost of issue resolution and maintenance based on reported failure rates of PCs at different ages, and out of warranty repair costs. For PCs that are older than three years, the cost of maintenance and issue resolution increases such that it is cheaper to purchase a new system.

If one considers the total cost of ownership throughout a product's refresh cycle, there is a significant difference between three and five years. This would typically include software upgrades, repairs, support, lost productivity when products are in for repairs, data loss and product upgrades.

The research data demonstrates that support costs increase with age, a five year old PC costs twice as much to maintain than a new one. One of the maintenance cost drivers is that fact that older systems suffer from more security incidents - a four year old PC has 53% more security incidents than a PC in its first year.

Hanging on to older equipment may not be in the best interest of a company, especially in terms of operability. More importantly, this decision typically doesn't present the cost savings that many businesses expect. It is crucial to consider the total lifecycle costs and to integrate an asset management plan into the decision making process.

Effective IT asset management is an art, having control over the real total cost of ownership of IT assets can produce significant cost savings and also increase operational efficiencies. There are many options and decisions that modern businesses face in the acquisition phase of their IT asset lifecycle. These could include aspects such as specific business requirements, budget constraints, a decision to lease or buy, support costs. The first consideration is whether to lease or buy. Leasing requires lower initial capital outlay and normally includes maintenance support. However, there needs to be a balance because the longer the lease term, the more one would spend compared to purchasing the equipment outright.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Every company has its own unique factors and considerations during their IT acquisition decision-making process. By implementing a robust IT asset management plan, businesses will minimise maintenance costs and capture the maximum residual value of assets. By employing a reputable IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) service provider, this residual value can be used to reduce the cost of new hardware acquisitions.

Wale Arewa Xperien CEO ceo 2021 l Vol 1

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EXCLUSIVE

xclusive:

Providing a better employee experience by Troye CEO Helen Kruger

C ompanies

that focus on operational efficiency while investing in the future, report ten percent higher growth than their competitors. Successful businesses regard IT as a strategic competitive differentiator for both customers and talent. It is also the key to building and executing a memorable employee experience, but it requires improved visibility and streamlined execution of projects. IT can reimagine and redefine what work means for the future of any organisation.

On the back end of the incident resolution, IT can standardise the incident resolution documentation to improve compliance and knowledge building. Business intelligence capabilities provide the insights needed for management to identify trends and improve operations.

Wrike unifies ITIL-based service management, project management, cross-team collaboration, and automation within a single solution with powerful work visualisation capabilities, effective resource allocation, approval workflow and escalation paths, Through streamlined IT operations, modernised IT templates with predefined data points to report on procurement and vendor management, more SLAs and KPIs, and dashboards and analytics. flexible workplaces, and increased agility, Wrike and Citrix Workspace can help IT meet business A single location to manage all communications demands faster and bridge physical and digital related to incidents, planned changes, and service worlds for a better, more efficient employee requests real-time reports, dashboards, and analytics experience. to monitor operations and take early remedial measures to minimise risk. Streamline IT operations Citrix Workspace and Wrike are critical assets in Citrix Workspace acts as the employee-facing digital helping organisations modernise IT operations. hub for accessing content, applications, and Wrike provides a central environment for IT company workflows. Employees have all they need organisations to manage enhancement requests, to succeed in one place and can quickly perform an address bug fixes, and improve incident response. action from Citrix Workspace, alerting IT of an issue or need. Citrix Workspace enables communication to This saves time and eliminates frustration, making it employees about incidents and application maintenance windows and provides a platform for easy to capture issues and share updates in a employees to report issues and IT managers to unified space. There’s no need to toggle among triage escalations. different applications or dig through email. When an issue escalates, Wrike gives IT a collaborative environment for the team to resolve the issue, with templates available to support responses to specific incident types, ensuring faster, more effective resolutions.

Agility and speed are essential ingredients for companies to rapidly innovate and adapt. By providing the right technology platform, IT can become an enabler for the business.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

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EXCLUSIVE

Modernise processes To take advantage of new business opportunities, companies must adapt and on-board new talent, as well as expand their network to new vendors. Through its integration with Upwork, Citrix Workspace can help organisations find and onboard new talent quickly and help fuel a superior employee experience. This provides independent professionals and agencies the freedom to securely access their work — from anywhere, on any device — in a way that delivers peace of mind and successful outcomes for everyone. Adding Wrike to the mix can help organisations scale and streamline their contingent workforce onboarding process by providing structured checklists to support incorporating new workers. Similar structured checklists can be used to improve business units’ collaboration with their procurement departments, streamlining the vendor background, compliance, and security check processes. Finally, Citrix Workspace’s e-signature capabilities can help customers streamline document-centric workflow for NDAs and business agreements involved in working with new vendors. Native integrations of procurement systems like SAP Ariba in Citrix Workspace enables companies to streamline approvals with extended stakeholders in the business. Bridging the digital and physical worlds As companies look to move to flexible work, they have an opportunity to rethink how to bridge their digital and physical worlds. Citrix Workspace helps companies rapidly adapt their processes to deliver a health self-certification micro-app for employees.

To take advantage of new business opportunities, companies must adapt and on-board new talent, as well as expand their network to new vendors.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

As companies get ready to return to the office, they can integrate Citrix Workspace with office management solutions like HPE, enabling them to comply with social distancing policies, book flex offices to support social distancing and more. Wrike can enable facilities teams to manage projects to modernize their offices and help their companies meet the needs of employees quicker. Meet Business Demands Faster Agility and speed are essential ingredients for companies to rapidly innovate and adapt. By providing the right technology platform, IT can become an enabler for the business. Together, Citrix Workspace and Wrike provide a unique platform for managing all aspects of work. With Citrix Workspace, both business and IT are enabled to build applications and integrations that can streamline business processes. With Wrike, IT organisations are better equipped to manage their strategic processes, resources, budgeting, and project risks and can organise and manage requests into projects or portfolios; visualise workload and project resource planning; run strategic projects, operations and sprints; and compare projects and portfolios. Collaborate freely Integrate with popular IT solutions like ServiceNow and Jira to increase visibility into technical deliverables Wrike and Citrix Workspace together provide a unique platform to accelerate the digital transformation of IT and enable better crossdepartmental collaboration, while standardising key IT workflows. Wrike and Citrix can help IT meet business demands faster and bridge physical and digital worlds for a better, more efficient experience across all areas of the business. With Citrix Workspace, organisations can unify workflows across all apps and provide consolidated, secure, and reliable access to all the resources employees need to perform at their best.

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EXCLUSIVE

Troye focuses on minimising both cost and risk,

More about Troye (www.troye.co.za)

maximising return on investment, driving innovation Troye is a leading 51% Black Women-Owned Level 2 BEE Information Technology solutions specialist

and

professional

managed

and safeguarding their customer’s business for the future.

services provider. Over the past decade, Troye has designed and implemented superior integrated IT solutions for its small, medium and enterprise customers - concentrating on end-to-end virtualisation solutions.

Company:

Troye

Contact:

Helen Kruger

Title:

CEO

Tel:

(011) 705-2757

Email:

helen@troye.co.za

Troye invests heavily in its customers through exceptional service excellence. This ensures a better

understanding

the

customer’s

business and their technology requirements. More importantly, it enables customers to focus on their core business activities with the assurance that their investment in technology is safeguarded.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

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EXCLUSIVE

Exclusive: In violation of common sense by FlowState80 CEO Mark Kayser

W hen embarking on large scale strategic digital

transformation programs, business leaders tend to default to project solutions. However, according to research firm McKinsey, more than 70 percent of strategic programs fail to deliver their intended outcomes. Having worked in this space for many years and being involved with massive portfolios of change and looking at the way people execute, we found a lot of violations of common sense. They must realise that these solutions could only work if they were run by super humans that work 20-hour days. When you look at it, we're not talking about total cataclysmic failure. Although a lot of them failed to deliver on their promise, there were some that delivered, but it was three years late and ten times over budget. The challenge was to counteract some of these failures. We subsequently designed FlowState80 to help people work a better day and save a lot of time, and hopefully enable more a more successful delivery of these important strategic programs. We've just tried to make that more doable. So it's looking at the components of all the deliveries in the portfolio and looking at 70 percent, then not achieving their purpose to promise. The biggest failure is not delivering on exactly what you say you're going to deliver. PMI reported that one in six big programs exceeded 200 percent of their original budget. The study showed that from a few hundred projects in the US, only 2.5 percent make their original targets. This equates to 97.5 percent not achieving what they promised and at a total cost of $150 billion for not delivering on time and on budget.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Stakeholder buy-in Programs in the corporate environment are complex and there are many reasons for failure. Limited stakeholder ownership and support is one of the biggest contributing factors. Strategic programs need to be prioritised, especially in the early days when they're still picking up momentum and getting buy-in. Let’s also consider it from a strategic ownership perspective, from the executive team and then also the discipline around execution. Often these big programs start building momentum but they don't actually show delivery results for a very long time. This causes the executive team to start losing faith in the execution of the program. And then from a change management perspective, there's a lot of change happening. Getting changed managements and abduction of this in the business is also critical. Many of these programs fail for some of the most obvious reasons, but more often it’s because of the lack of strategic ownership and support an ex-co level or at board level. How do the companies end up in this situation? Sometimes it's merely about behaviour, people are constantly in a battle between urgent and important. It's a battle to stay on top of your day and that's why it boils down to execution, discipline and looking at ways to mitigate some of these challenges. Meetings are definitely one of the key areas and one needs to look at where people spend their time. Director's time is spent compiling information in slide decks and more than 50 percent of their time is spent in meetings. Then there's still a lot more time being spend on spreadsheets and emails. ceo 2021 l Vol 1

EXCLUSIVE

Meeting defaults Although meetings are only 50 productive, they remain the cornerstone for any business. Only between 40 – 50 percent of the actions that come out of meetings are closed on time. Furthermore, the default calendar meeting of 30 minutes to an hour is probably the biggest productivity fail in business today. The key to success To succeed, strategic programs need to deliver business value on time and within budget. In this environment the speed of execution is critical. When unpacking the data and the methodologies used to execute strategic programs, one soon realises the administrative challenges associated with executing these programs. FlowState80 is an all-in-one productivity and collaboration software solution that helps purposedriven program teams work smarter and save time. It’s an innovative managed service framework that will help companies increase their productivity by targeting 80 percent on-time completion. Additionally, it enables them to collaborate more effectively, in meetings, projects and across activities. FlowState80 turns data into real-time information that is easily accessible, visible and meaningful. FlowState80 improves visibility, increases accountability and puts more trust in the plan. It provides a more agile performance with reduced emails, the removal of meeting timeslot dependency and offers a centralised audit trail for all delivered work.

More about FlowState80 (www.flowstate80.com) Each year, corporates globally approve trillions of dollars for Strategic Programs that are designed to build for the future. Yet despite their strategic importance, most programs are managed out of an organisations project toolsets. A program is not a project. We’ve built FlowState80 to be the best solution for Strategic Programs on the market today, with more detail and better visualisation to help you discover and diagnose delivery bottlenecks in a fraction of the time. FlowState80’s management team have brought their masses of experience in business environments together to build solutions that enable teams to improve transparency and accountability, reducing complexity, improving contextual collaboration with the added value of access to real-time reporting and insight metrics. Thousands of people use our solutions across organisations in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The FlowState80 team operates globally, working from hubs in Europe and South Africa. Company: Contact: Designation: Tel: Email:

FlowState80 Mark Kayser Co-Founder and CEO +27 (0) 72 632 9636 Mark@flowstate80.com

In conclusion, it’s a Productivity-as-a-Service (PaaS) offering that helps program managers achieve an enhanced level of purpose driven productivity.

The biggest failure is not delivering on exactly what you say you're going to deliver. Words Ivor van Rensburg

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EXCLUSIVE

Exclusive:

Empowering Transformational Leaders by Professor Owen Skae, Director at Rhodes Business School

an era where many business schools are differentiating themselves via executive education offerings tailored for fields of specialisation such finance and information technology, Rhodes Business School has chosen to focus on what should be a mission critical consideration for all businesses – sustainability. “When we committed to teaching Environmental Management about 15 years ago – shortly thereafter broadening our focus to Leadership for Sustainability, some people were sceptical. While others felt that eventually when the other business schools ‘woke-up’ to this fact, our small school in the Eastern Cape would be drowned out and would no longer be able to claim this as a differentiator,” reveals Professor Owen Skae, Director at Rhodes Business School. Holistic View The key point for Skae and his colleagues is that sustainability should not be some sort of esoteric notion within the business world. Instead it should lie at the fulcrum between creating sustainable value and the manner in which organisations harness and integrate resources so that they can derive longterm benefit for all stakeholders. In the School’s view, ensuring that profit and sustainability are not mutually exclusive goals is a leadership challenge, albeit one of unprecedented magnitude. In a world where many executives admit they are often pressured to deliver upon short-term market expectations in quarterly earnings calls, it is a clarion call to those emerging business leaders who want to do things differently with a view on the longterm. Words Valdi Pereira

As part of its approach the School places overt emphasis on responsible leadership, strategic thinking and the essence of being an ethical organisation. This approach resonates with students as all of them rate the MBA offering as a transformative experience. One of its alumni is an Afghan businessperson who selected Rhodes Business School over a wide range of international options, because he wanted a school, ‘that taught and lived sustainability, and couldn’t be called a typical business school’. Unfortunately, notes Skae: “There are still too many leaders who don’t get it. Perhaps a cataclysmic event, like the global pandemic, will focus efforts to collaborate around living on a planet, where we are consuming finite resources, faster than we replenish them”. A Questioning Approach The diversity of thought the School encourages is not only reflected in its diverse candidate profile (where notably some 40% are women) but also the various fields from which these candidates are drawn. Schools, non-government organisations, trade unions and all spheres of government have emerged as a source of students over the past decade. A clear affirmation that there is indeed leadership dynamics, management principles and practices that are universal to both the public and private sector. ceo 2021 l Vol 1

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T here

has also been a steady evolution in the nature of the content delivered to students with an increased focus on governance and ethics. This is particularly important, in the wake of the global financial recession, climate change upheaval, biodiversity loss and economic and social inequality where there was a very real sense that business Schools and their graduates were central to some of the indiscretions that occurred.

New Generation

“Insofar as Rhodes Business School is concerned, there are no sacred cows,” reveals Skae. “There are many issues that are wrong and need to be fixed quickly. That being said, they are not all just threats, some constitute opportunities too, which need to be taken.”

In light of the business world slowly emerging into a new normal, business leaders are going to have to be comfortable with an uncertain future, where they will need to be resilient and achieve more with less at their disposal.

In the contemporary business environment one of the biggest challenges faced by companies is the explosion in information and data that has become available. According to some estimates the volume of information is expanding by 35%-50% every year within companies alone – this does not account for information generated externally that decision makers often have to absorb and consider in the context of their business operations.

While Rhodes Business School has a longstanding commitment to producing MBA graduates that are well versed in the needs of sustainable business. It readily acknowledges that it cannot ‘mould’ students to fit a particular world view or only be responsive to sustainability imperatives.

Perhaps most importantly, they need to be willing to take responsibility for what needs to be done and be accountable, something that is often still lacking amongst leaders. “Our expectation is that our graduates will be decision makers and within whatever sphere of governance influence they work, they will be able to offer educated and informed contributions to make organisations truly sustainable,” Skae concludes.

While a burgeoning knowledge base is certainly and important and powerful resource for humanity, Skae admits that it does bring challenges into the academic realm. “The pace of developments of technology in the transmission and production of knowledge is quite unbelievable. It is hard to keep up at times but we are committed to dealing with the challenge,” he shares. “Ultimately, a broad base of knowledge provides a broad range of options, in this business unusual environment that we are all operating in, one has to find the solution that works for you”.

Words Valdi Pereira

Professor Owen Skae, Director at Rhodes Business School

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OPINION

OPINION:

Malware: The biggest threat

by cybersecurity expert and J2 CEO John Mc Loughlin

Malware remains the biggest threat to corporate networks, more costly than any other threat including ransomware and trojans. A research study conducted by Deep Instinct reports on the hundreds of millions of attempted cyberattacks that occurred every day throughout 2020 showing malware increased by 358% overall. Emotet maintained its number one position in the Global Threat Index, highlighting the global impact of this malware. The highly destructive banking trojan remains the top malware as it has already impacted six percent of organisations globally. This malicious spam campaign uses various delivery techniques to spread the malware, this includes phishing emails, embedded links, attachments and password protected Zip files. Emotet also collaborates with other campaigns where cybercriminals used it to drop ransomware and spyware onto systems that were already infected by this malware. Its worm-like capabilities enable it to spread to other devices within the same network. Regardless of how it is spread, Emotet is persistent and avoids detection. This means victims are unaware that they have been compromised until it's too late.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

Emotet is one of the most costly and destructive malware variants. It's critical for corporates to be aware of this threat, they need robust security systems to prevent data breaches. More importantly, employees need comprehensive training so they are able to identify and react to Emotet. Trickbot is another banking trojan that is used in various cyber-intrusion campaigns. Similar to Emotet, it is often installed on computers to provide a gateway to install ransomware. The third biggest malware is Formbook, a credential-harvesting trojan that is used by cyber-criminals to steal information like usernames and passwords. Other malware includes Phorpiex, Hiddad Android malware, Dridex trojan and XMRig cryptocurrency mining malware. Phorpiex is a botnet known for distributing other malware families via spam campaigns as well as fuelling large scale sextortion campaigns. Hiddad is an Android malware which repackages legitimate apps and then releases them to a third-party store. Its main function is to display ads, but it can also gain access to key security details built into the OS.

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OPINION

xHelper is a malicious application that is used for downloading other malicious apps and display advertisement. The application is capable of hiding itself from the user and reinstall itself in case it was uninstalled. To help prevent becoming a victim to malware attacks, businesses must ensure that they have a comprehensive cyber resilience program in place. This program will ensure a layered defence and provides visibility across the full environment, no matter where their users are.

J2 has provided services and solutions to renowned enterprise corporations with sites running in South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Australia, UK and Malta. On behalf of: Company: J2 Contact: John Mc Loughlin Designation: CEO Tel: (021) 461-1223 Email: john@j2.co.za

It must incorporate all aspects of their operations including email, data, applications, internet and the people who are accessing these. The program will ensure that all software is up to date, users are well trained and anomalies can be rapidly detected and threats remediated. One cannot manage what you cannot see. You cannot keep defending the same way and expecting different results. The threats and cyber criminals have evolved, so should your security. More about J2 (www.j2.co.za) J2 is a security focused African technology business founded in 2006 to address the need for effective cybersecurity, governance, risk and compliance solutions in Africa. The continued rise of cybercrime, identity theft and confidential data leakage drives the requirement for J2’s managed security service offerings, not only for competitive advantage, but as an absolute business necessity. The company offers managed cyber security services for every business. We ensure that you have greater visibility to identify risky behaviour and enhance the capability to respond to prevent losses. J2 delivers essential tools that empower organisations to take control of their technology spend. The company's hand-picked solutions provide complete visibility over its customers' environment, while reducing risk and lowering costs.

Words Ivor van Rensburg

John Mc Loughlin Cybersecurity Expert & J2 CEO

To help prevent becoming a victim to malware attacks, businesses must ensure that they have a comprehensive cyber resilience program in place. This program will ensure a layered defence and provides visibility across the full environment, no matter where their users are. ceo 2021 l Vol 1

The

OPINION

Kawasaki Z H2 an impressionable bike

by Vishnu Sungh

The most sought after and idolized Kawasaki H2 and H2 R categorically decimated the performance limits of hyper tourers and superbikes. It ushered in a renaissance of explosive performance and gargantuan top speeds for a fraction of the cost of a hyper car. The years trolled on and the H2 stamped its place in the annals of biking lore as one of the bikes to beat in a straight line. Now five years later with the base model costing a tad under R700 k and the R at over a bar, the cash strapped consumer must turn to more subtle products.

Words Vishnu Singh

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OPINION

What could be more relaxed than a naked H2? Kawasaki strips away all the screen bits, creates another futuristic space vehicle and allows joe public to have access to a ballistic missile. Very calm indeed.

The first-gen H2s were grumpy, agitated and could throw you around like a Cameron Diaz on a rodeo bull. The fuelling was twitchy and unless you slapped on a Power commander and friends, its over-fuelling would run you dry in 80 or so kilometres. Once tuned it was manageable but still a handful. Generation 2 solved the fuelling challenge and smoothed out a lot of kinks. It was enough to make the bike, perhaps, too calm. The Z H2 has solved all the glitches of the previous monsters and presents a manic sociopath with the temperament of Hannibal Lector. If you behave you might stay off the entrée list. The Z H2 gives you the wristextending, spine twisting, tummy flattening experience of a super-charger without that many NDE on every ride. For those that do not know, NDE = Near-death experiences. It is wider than the other skinny super streetfighters out there, but do understand it does pack a mighty wallop and for a few dollars more, you can derestrict this bike and be thrilled to the point of anxious fear every time you swing a leg over its ample girth. It is not the slimmest bike to bend into a corner when pushing hard, but it's plush like a gomma gomma sofa and ignores the ripples in the tar much more convincingly than the other machines in this class. With my slightly above average height, it treats me with dignity and stability, no matter how close I am to the tar.

Words Vishnu Singh

Bikes in this class perform well in certain aspects and we have to adapt to the things that are lacking. The ZH2 feels purpose-built to around all criteria and does not feel unaccomplished in anything. It is quirky and domesticated like a reformed super-model who has learnt to be a good housewife and yet is still sexy and intoxicating whenever she switches on the charm. Unlike a walkway model, she weighs in at 239 kg. Although it seems a large number, there is no clumsiness or girth that is noticeable. The mass effect is a welcome boon with these bikes stupendous thrust and like all needs, it counters steers effortlessly. The extra kilos keep it in a firm stance when careening through mountain passes, thus be grateful for the stability. Those familiar with the H2 will notice that this version has a double-sided swingarm and its front end is stable enough to drag pegs and knee sliders with comfort. A word of caution though, it is relentless in its acceleration and can catch you off guard faster than a devil chilli in a chicken burger. The electronics are superb, but remember traction control still falls under the laws of physics, so it can only do so much, no matter how invincible we feel.

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OPINION

The Brembos are more than adequate on the roads

and even harder use in the mountains did not betray any lack of response. The ABS is also predictable and engaging. The lack of fairings leaves you breathless at speeds over 220kph, and although the bike can soar to about 290, the sensation is equivalent to auditioning for Mr Elastic spot in the fantastic four movies because, at those speeds, part of you will be hyper-extended and will not return to normal. The dual shifter meshed with the manic engine produces a cacophony of grunts, growls and whistles that delight and amuse you every time you throttle up or down, granted, a slip-on would add immense value to the experience but let us not add another accessory to a rather solid price tag. How much you ask, well, the quotes vary and it would be best to enquire from a KMSA dealer directly. I would ask: It's been a long year of many new car models and, sometimes, not enough time to drive, ride or pilot everything on offer. Being an H2 fan, this was one product I would not miss. After a fortnight with her, I am impressed enough to place the supercharged green machine at the top of my super-street fighter list. It is elegant, brutish, sublime and its psychotic personality is more than enough as a commuter, short-range tourer and breakfast run consumer to draw the crowds and satisfy the primal urge we bikers possess. A real bargain in the current market of over R350 000.00 plus bikes.

Words Vishnu Singh

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OPINION

by Carl Wepener

that makes driving a pleasure I have had the opportunity to take the BMW M440i Coupe xDrive from Pretoria to Cape town as a test drive. Yes, I did some town driving which gave me a great feel for this car’s overall performance.

Versatility may not be great but when you have a sports Coupe, versatility is not important. That being said and as mentioned the size of the boot and the opening to the cabin of the small midsection armrest does give a bit of versatility.

The new BMW 440i Coupe’s design is modern and very appealing as was seen on the trip as many people came to look and ask questions when we stopped at the One-stop station. For me, the exterior design is spot on for appeal and I found it practical as far as Coupe’s go. Getting into the back seats do require a bit of contortion but the space is adequate and the seating is comfortable. You can ask our two dogs and they will confirm this as they travelled to Cape town on those seats. I was amazed at what can also be fitted into the boot.

What also was evident when using technology is that the number of features, ease of use and userfriendliness was second to none. Connectivity and quality of sound, whether radio, app or phone was excellent. Driving pleasure is only possible through engineering integrity and build quality and the M440i excels in this area. There is no wind, road or suspension noise unless the road is rough, the wind is howling or you hit a pothole, which luckily, I could avoid due to the excellent response to the steering wheels.

The interior ambience, the quality of materials and the accessibility of controls left nothing to be wanted. All functioned very well and not once did I lose quality on the radio as we drove. The driving position suits all from short to tall, the seats are comfortable and the ease of use of the infotainment system is much easier, or maybe it is because I am becoming used to such systems.

I enjoyed it a lot and I did stop a few times in the road to do a racing start just to give joy to my inner child and of course those with me in the car. Even though such fast starts the gearbox remained smooth all through the application of the different ratios. The howling of the six-cylinder motor also did not disappoint.

Words Carl Wepener

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OPINION

A 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel, forcedinduction diesel motor propels the 420d producing 140 kW and 400 Nm. 0-100 kph is reached in 7.2 seconds. The M440i xDrive has a 3.0-litre turbocharged 6cylinder motor with 275 kW and 500 Nm and is have an all-wheel drivetrain, that propels the M440i from 0-100 kph in 4.5 seconds.

Now

I know the question is what is the fuel consumption like? In town, you can easily consume 12litres per 100 km. On the open road and travelling at a constant 125 km per hour (112.3 km per hour average speed over 1570 km’s) fuel consumption came down to 8.1 litres per 100 km. Now there were some passes and a short bit of gravel road and the M440i handled perfectly in all situations. No, I have not tried to reach the top speed, but when overtaking it is great to say that there is no hesitation of the motor to pass quickly and efficiently. Traction is excellent and so is the stopping performance is great.

When it comes to efficiency, BMW claims average fuel consumption figures of 6.4 L/100 km, 4.8 L/100 km and 7.8 L/100 km for its 420i, 420d and M440i xDrive derivatives respectively. All models have 8-speed automatic transmissions. COMMENTS: The BMW M440i xDrive is one of the most luxurious luxury performance Coupe’s that I have driven. It is comfortable but bumpy over bad roads. Fuel consumption is good when cruising. A great tourer that I will enjoy driving at any time.

BMW is known for its great safety aspects and the 440i is no different. Its level of passive and standard features as well as the active safety and advanced driving features are on the leading edge. Value as with several other things are in the eye of the beholder and my eye loves what it sees. At the time of writing the price for a magnificent piece of motor engineering is: BMW is offering its new 4 Series Coupe range in 3 derivatives: The 420i, which comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol motor. It produces 135 kW and 300 Nm and takes 7.5 seconds from 0-100 kph.

Words Carl Wepener

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OPINION

by Carl Wepener

MyMahindra MyKaroo

Words Carl Wepener

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OPINION

have had some Mahindra products on a test some years ago and I was not impressed. I must confess that with the exterior touches added like the new grill, lights and silver highlights, the Karoo name, the lockable boot lid with the name Karoo shown makes a difference. I love the boxy exterior and the rugged looks. The interior too was not left as is but received a cruise control, reverse camera and new touch screen. Now we would have received the Mahindra S11 SUV for your Cape town trip but since it had now towbar, they brought us the Karoo S11 double cab. I did not want to tow a trailer but never look a given horse in the mouth. Fully loaded with 2 dogs travelling on the back seat in their safety slings, a lot more luggage than Annelize decided to take along made me hook up the trailer as the 3 cats in their cages together with groceries, laptops etc were all packed in the lockable boot lid. Much heavier than anticipated and me worried about the fuel consumption, we left Gauteng at 04:30 in the morning. What I have done on the advice of Dirk Gallowitz was to have the tyres pumped to 1.8 bars only as it improves the ride quality enormously. Yes, but what about fuel consumption? Fuel consumption down to Cape town was excellent at 8.1 litres per 100kms. Coming back to Gauteng it jumped to 9.3 litres per 100 km. Power was always adequate even with a heavy load. Cruise control is easy to operate and the electrically adjustable outside rearview mirrors adds to the quality. In addition, the mirrors have integrated turn signals and one-touch lane change signalling and Mahindra’s new flip key with chromed logo. The Mahindra is cementing its reputation for providing value-for-money workhorse and lifestyle bakkies by adding specification and style upgrades. I can vouch for its toughness during the 5000km trip we have done. Words Carl Wepener

The Karoo especially came to its own on gravel roads and roads less maintained. With the tyres set at 1.8 bar, the Karoo drove like a dream and I never had any problems with road holding or handling. It was similarly at place on the Karoo vlaktes where we stopped often and enjoyed the vastness of the veld and the capability of the Mahindra to get us there and back, as on the Middelvlei wine farm where it stood out proudly amongst rentals and Sandton pavement hoppers. By the way, the wine was consumed at home. I cruised at a speed of 128 km per hour that gave a real speed of 113kms per hour for the duration of the trip. I had to take roads unknown just to see some areas and roads never before travelled. The Mahindra just purred ahead. What further impressed me was the total lack of road, wind and engine noise. The seats are comfortable for long trips and I have had no problems whatsoever with manoeuvring at speed through twists and turns. Making a U-turn or making a turn takes getting used to as the turning circle is not as sharp as with other similar vehicles. I have missed a PowerPoint in the load box to connect my cooler too. This should be included as the Karoo is great for outings. The Blue tooth connection was easy to use and the sound quality of calls is good.

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OPINION

T he

Karoo models retain their customdesigned styling and nudge bars with Karoo detailing. The lockable lid on the load box is strong and ensures the safety of goods. It does take away some space at the cab side but it is not a lot. I would have loved to be able to store stuff behind the second row of seats but it does not allow access. There is limited storage under the seats but that is where you will find the jack and tools to change wheels.

In the Karoo S10 Limited Edition, Mahindra has added a special black cosmetic package, which includes blacked-out off-road alloy wheels, a dark nudge bar and a dark branded roll bar. Mahindra also added a tonneau cover, flared rear wheel arches that complement the front arches, and a wind deflector kit on both the front and rear windows. The special edition is available in either white or silver.

There is a 7” infotainment system with a capacitive touch screen and integrated reverse camera with the most recent set of navigation maps and language pack for South Africa. I have found the navigation to be very spot on and also easy to programme destinations. Mahindra has decided to offer 4x2 and 4x4 drivetrain options and our 103 kW mHawk turbodiesel engine. The full double cab range is available and the models are: Mahindra Pik Up S6 4x2 DC: R327499 Mahindra Pik Up S6 4x2 DC Karoo: R343 499 Mahindra Pik Up S6 4x4 DC: R361 499 Mahindra Pik Up S10 4x2 DC: R361 499 Mahindra Pik Up S6 4x4 DC Karoo: R373 499 Mahindra Pik Up S10 4x2 DC Karoo: R371 499 Mahindra Pik Up S10 4x4 DC: R395 499 Mahindra Pik Up S10 4x4 DC Karoo: R401 499 Mahindra Pik Up S11 4x2 DC: R389 999 Mahindra Pik Up S11 4x2 DC Karoo: R406 999 Mahindra Pik Up S11 4x4 DC: R421 999 Mahindra Pik Up S11 4x4 DC Karoo: R436 999 Prices correct at time of writing the article A higher specification level complemented by additional accessories gives buyers a much wider option and the option of a cosmetic package or colour-coded canopy makes it easier to individualise your choice.

Words Carl Wepener

The Karoo Edition gets its name from the tongue-incheek brand campaign and accompanying TV advertisement in which an intrepid adventurer moves heaven and earth to find a lost lamb. The campaign was conceptualised and filmed in South Africa by Mahindra and its advertising agency, Joe Public.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

Motor Manufacturers Overcoming Marketing Hurdles in

-AfricaA frica

deals with it and what will these rapid

changes mean to clients as their purchases will age much faster? The service parts and spare parts part of the business in Africa is quite complex. We can only supply the parts for Africa for the vehicles we produce, thus leaving a substantial gap for parts for imported vehicles supplied from a different channel via Japan and other countries. Most of the governments in Africa want to grow the market but their first intentions are trying to reduce their exposure to foreign exchange or else they will continuously struggle with their balance of trade. To do that, one of the key challenges or key strategies is to add some local key elements or local manufacturing. Our approach is more about finding a way in which Motor Manufacturers South in Africa can support the development of the motor industry in the rest of Africa, than just the sale of vehicles and parts. Ford in Nigeria and Volkswagen in Rwanda is an excellent example of this kind of development. Technology is indeed accelerating and there are two main thrusts in the motor industry. One of them is towards alternative drive trains to steer the vehicles and, and the first production of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles which is certainly a very strong alternative. The other thrust is around connected vehicles and that is not only around providing telematics or internet access in a vehicle.

Words Carl Wepener

It is much more than that. Those are the two big technologies that are going to impact the future. In South Africa and the rest of Africa, we have many fundamental steps to take that are going to affect our vehicles. We don’t have clean fuel as yet and it is hampering more advanced technology. Technology will trickle into higher-priced premium vehicles, but in terms of the volume market, they are quite expensive and it will take a while before it becomes commercially viable for our customers. I don’t think depreciation over the next five to 10 years is going to be a big factor f0or customers as people tend to keep vehicles for longer periods. To a large degree, a part of South Africa and a large part of Africa is going to be driven by conventional technology and the motor industry will have to provide that service in an affordable way to the market on the continent. What is your take on the consolidation of research and products from motor manufacturers and what is Motor Manufacturers in South Africa’s standpoint on this?

Most of the governments in Africa want to grow the market but their first intentions are trying to reduce their exposure to foreign exchange or else they will continuously struggle with their balance of trade.

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

OPINION

A lot of ventures and joint partnerships are happening

Automation of vehicles is a given. What are Motor to try and accelerate the introduction of consolidated Manufacturers in South Africa’s opinion of this and affordable new exciting technology products being practical and available in the next 10 years from motor manufacturers. Autonomous driving is for South Africa and Africa? one of the exciting developments taking place through such joint ventures. Such research and The automation of vehicles or autonomous driving developments are needed but are extremely has been written about quite a lot. Motor expensive. In terms of the impact on South Africa, we Manufacturers has a very low tolerance to having will not see significant influences in the next five years any safety risks that could lead to fatalities. The except for safety technology that is important to our quantum of research that needs to go into this customers as well as the technology around before it becomes commercially available is still a efficiency, cost of motoring and, of course, safety. long way off. What is very exciting is that what Most of Africa will take even longer before underpins autonomous driving is some very strong autonomous driving and associated products become safety systems that can talk to other vehicles and interact in a way that has a far better ability to a reality. predict the risk of an accident or an incident and The motor vehicle “sales space” is becoming much protect the occupants from a potential calamity. more competitive. What are the differentiating and distinguishing factors that will keep Motor We are going to see that safety systems trickle Manufacturers in South Africa ahead of the into our vehicles as they become safer and safer. Motor Manufacturers in South Africa would like to competition? see that technology advancing all our vehicles. Generally, there has been a drive for Motor Autonomous vehicles are great for well-structured Manufacturers to compete based on our processes to road systems and infrastructure. But what happens remain competitive. Most manufacturers have world- when the unpredictable happens? For instance, renowned solid processes in running their businesses how do you approach a South African circle? and they are always on the lookout for ways and There are lots of these kinds of elements that need to be developed. means of improving it all the time. On top of that, a more important factor is the African business culture especially the way manufacturers approach business and that is most probably the most difficult thing to replicate - the business culture. The mindset and approach to finding better ways of doing business and striving to continuously change and adapt to meet the needs of future customers are essential.

Motor Manufacturers vehicles make up a huge number of vehicles in Africa and the largest number of those in older models are not technically advanced and will need to be serviced. Motor Manufacturers must launch a value service element that gives more affordable parts and labour costs to bring down the expenses of owning an older vehicle. It will work well in South Africa, especially with the new legislation on service plans that do not have to be with the manufacturer service plans. It is a different story in the rest of Africa and manufacturers will have to think innovatively about how to service all of those customers.

Manufacturers still need to improve based on refining their products and appeal, especially to the younger customers who, in future, will make up the majority of the clientele. At present, the ability to attract those customers is not as good as it should be and it is essential that strategy is turned that around and that elements that appeal to customers are found. Motor Manufacturers in South Africa wants to further grow our contribution to the country and Africa, because if we can do that and support the Carl Wepener industrialisation of Africa then that will be a Corporate & Financial Services significant support to our economy and our EMAIL: carl@ceoglobalgroup.com communities on the Continent.

Words Carl Wepener

ceo 2021 l Vol 1

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st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

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YEARS 2001 - 2021

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49 Glen Beach Way - Glencairn - Simons Town South Africa - 7975 Expand your Business Horizons

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49 Glen Beach Way - Glencairn - Simons Town South Africa - 7975 Expand your Business Horizons

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49 Glen Beach Way - Glencairn - Simons Town South Africa - 7975 Expand your Business Horizons

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49 Glen Beach Way - Glencairn - Simons Town South Africa - 7975 Expand your Business Horizons

www.ceoglobalgroup.com

Proudly celebrating

st Anniversary Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence

Expand your Business Horizon

YEARS 2001 - 2021