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CEMA Internet of Things Market to Explode In 2015- IDC

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The Internet of Things (IoT) market in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMA) region is taking off. Although still nascent, it is growing rapidly and offers considerable potential for the rest of the decade, according to global ICT market intelligence firm IDC.

In 2015, the Internet of Things market in CEMA will soar, bringing critical technology innovation, enabling business process innovation, and driving the digital transformation further than has been possible so far.

IDC said it expects the CEMA IoT market to exceed $50 billion by 2018, at about the same time the installed base will reach approximately two billion autonomous devices or “things” connected to networks across CEMA.

That said, the IoT adoption rate will be far from uniform across industry sectors.

To shed light on the future patterns of this IT phenomenon, IDC’s regional market intelligence team has compiled its 2015 predictions for the for Internet of Things market in CEMA as outlined below:

Strong enthusiasm for IoT-based solutions will accelerate digital transformation in CEMA healthcare.

•         The Internet of Things will help to overcome barriers to the adoption of cloud technologies in manufacturing.

•         Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication will become critical areas for the future success of the connected vehicle market.

•         Spending on the IoT for omnichannel operations will double by 2018.

•         In-store consumer digital offers/personalized promotions will keep customers in stores.

•         CEMA telcos will struggle with the complexity of M2M.

•         Security will be the top concern of companies deploying IoT, thus presenting opportunities for security solutions providers.

•         Public safety and emergency response will account for more than one-third of government IoT spending between 2013 and 2018.

•         By 2020, upwards of 35% of commercial and public people monitoring systems in Central and Eastern Europe will be directly connected to traffic and other public management systems.

•         Smart cities dynamics will remain fragmented across the region.

•         Bonus: The GCC region will record strong growth in IoT activity.

In 2015, the IoT market will record double-digit growth and provide high revenue opportunity for all vendors in this ecosystem due to the unparalleled opportunity to connect ‘things’ in a consumer and enterprise context. “While the Internet of Things market in CEMA is still in its early stages, growth momentum has already picked up,” noted Milan Kalal, senior research analyst with IDC CEMA.” “However, the development of this market will not be consistent across all industry sectors. Those that have already implemented IoT or have plans to do so (e.g., manufacturing, transportation, and healthcare entities) will record the most immediate growth.”

IDC’s latest report Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa Internet of Things Market 2015 Top 10 Predictions tagged: #EIOT05X, provides strategic market context regarding IoT evolution in CEMA, addressing key drivers and technology trends and their impact on investments in IoT solutions across various industry sectors.

The predictions are designed to help company leaders capitalize on emerging IoT market opportunities and plan for future growth.

IDC will provide additional and more detailed descriptions of IoT-related drivers, initiatives, and IT spending in CEMA in its subscription service, Central and Eastern European Internet of Things Ecosystem and Trends.

The Company is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets.
 


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Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

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

Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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Flaw in Microsoft SharePoint Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concern

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general of NIMC,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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