Tech Times 31
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Nigerian partners discover new opportunities in Sophos road show By Tony Nwakaegho Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security has concluded first in its series of pan Africa partner roadshows held in Lagos, Nigeria. The event conducted with the theme of “Discover Sophos”, kicked off as a multi-city channel partner tour that saw Sophos reaching out and connecting with resellers, distributors and other partners across Africa, covering all major markets. The roadshow aims to launch full range of Sophos security products and educate partners on next generation of end-user, network and server protection solutions. In addition, Nigerian partners were also provided with understanding on what’s in store with roadmap, upcoming products & solution opportunities and channel initiatives. Lagos partner roadshow came close on the heels of recent launch of Synchronized Security, which made Sophos the first security company to link Network and Endpoint products to enable improved and advanced protection without the need for in-house security manpower or multiple security solutions. Nigerian partners have access to these revolutionary security solutions from Sophos that include firewall, end-user protection, data security, mobile security and server protection. Following its successful integration with Cyberoam, and more recently appointment of Harish Chib (a Cyberoam veteran) as new leader for MEA, Sophos has begun making rapid
As part of the cardinal objective of President Mohammadu Buhuri’s change mantra, the Federal Government said it is to create Information Communication Technology hubs across the nation. This is the fall out of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ‘’ICT for Change Empowerment Programme’’ between the Federal Government and Huawei Technologies Co. Nig Ltd at the State House Abuja. Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said: “We are looking at developing existing hubs and to see how we can empower those who are already working in the various ICT hubs.’’ According to him, some of the ICT organisations were already growing into a silicon valley in Yaba, Lagos, and many people are engaged in programming and developing applications. He said that the Federal Government would expand
strides, strengthening its reach while augmenting expansion in Africa. “Now is one of the most exciting and profitable times to target Nigeria’s network and IT security market,” Moiz Maloo MD of Mart networks said. “Discover Sophos partner tour lived up to its name and provided partners with the in-depth security solutions knowledge needed to succeed in this growing market. Sophos brings balanced focus on both Network and Endpoint side and has one of the most comprehensive security portfolios in the industry. It also understands Nigeria’s unique needs, especially need for simple security. We are thrilled with new opportunities and given Sophos’ channel commitment; we’re looking forward to accelerate our security business success even faster.” Consolidation with Cyberoam has allowed Sophos to significantly expand its presence in Middle East and Africa, with total partner count exceeding over 2000 experienced resellers. Sharing his comment on the roadshow, Harish Chib, VP MEA, Sophos said, “Being a 100 % channel centric company is the hallmark of our success and we are proud of our Nigerian partners for adding to our growth. As we bring Sophos and Cyberoam strengths together, we are set to double down on our commitment to partners, ensuring continued growth, latest skills, simplified management of business and customers and greater profitability. Discover Sophos roadshow is our initiative to transition our partners from product-centric sales approach
to solutions-based selling. With a broad range of Sophos products, we want to enable our partners to be solution provider for all sort of security needs for their customers.” Moreover, at a time when cyber fraud, financial malware scare and other internet perils are spiralling security concerns in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, Sophos partners have a ripe opportunity to take latest security technologies and solutions to market. Africa is poised to undergo another round of ICT led transition, which would benefit its healthcare, banking & financial services, education and government projects, adding to citizens’ welfare. However, with mobile and broadband connectivity reaching more users and businesses, cyber criminals have more targets in their radar. Sophos, with its proven expertise in network,
enduser and server protection brings tremendous opportunity to Nigerian partners to address these needs and emerge endto-end security provider, experiencing incremental revenue growth. Sophos’ products allow users to secure every end point of their network, from laptops to virtual desktops and servers, to web and email traffic and mobile devices. The company is the only vendor that’s placed as a leader in UTM, Endpoint and Mobile Data Protection magic quadrants of a leading global analyst, which holds testimony to its proven consistency in product delivery, and a mature vision for the technology. The roadshow also saw Sophos announcing several partner enablement initiatives including skills development, training and certification programmes and incentives for growth.
Chib, MEA Sophos leader
NCC decries lack of broadband access in Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30
country. The commission said it’s also looking into ways to facilitate the distribution of the current landed fibre capacity of over 9 terabytes at the shores of Lagos to fast track last mile penetration in the country. It also believes that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2013-2018), which sets out a five-year roadmap and strategy, with the primary objective of achieving a five-fold increase in broadband penetration in Nigeria by the year 2018, will facilitate universal broadband rollout and promote access and usage. “With the faithful execution of the broadband plan the 2018 broadband penetration targets can be achieved but it needs everyone on board. With Increased Broadband Penetration and Access, Nigerians can do more! A connected Nigeria is a transformed Nigeria,” it said. Some of the indices for Broadband roll-out and provision that the government is looking at include availability for service nationwide, improved quality of service, an affordability of service, a market driven competition, incentives to encourage foreign direct investment and consumer protection.
FG to create ICT hubs across Nigeria the scope of technology and incubate the start-ups of young people to advance ICT. He said that the development of ICT was an opportunity for people to get quick and decent jobs to enhance their lives and the economy. He commended the group for the partnership with the government, and assured that the government would work with
Osinbajo, Vice President
it to achieve success. The vice president said that the government was creating an opportunity to ease business for entrepreneurs, adding that the country must move up in the business index by opening up the market. He said the Federal Government would encourage not only the selling of products but also their local manufacture so that the large population in the country could occupy the middle class. He said that it was an opportunity for China to improve on its technology transfer, being a strategic partner with the Federal Government and that the effort would lead to greater prosperity for both China and Nigeria. Osinbajo hailed the ladies who qualified to go to China for ICT training, saying that it was the
objective of the administration to advance the girl-child education and women in business because of their large population. “If you don’t engage women in business and education, we will be shooting ourselves in the feet as women have a very great role to play in nation building. “Chinese Ambassador has proved to us that he is not only an ambassador but a brother, because he has stuck to us very closely and has taken every opportunity to work with Nigerian government to achieve our objective,’’ he said. He also commended Huawei technologies for the manner it was advancing technology development globally, remarking that knowledge was key ‘’and only the knowledge society will succeed’’. The vice president said he was
excited about “certain attitude the young generation has about technology’’, adding that it was time for young people to be trained to imbibe ICT and the entire technology field. Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, said that the trainees would be evenly selected and urged Huawei group to increase the number of Nigerian trainers for the project to save cost of sending trainees to China. On his part, Gu Xiaojie, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria said that his country was ready to develop the economic cooperation with Nigeria through 10 key cooperation plans, including industrialization, agriculture, infrastructure, financial services, rail development and public health.