General News
Check Point Ltd Takes Information Security to Next Level
There is no gainsaying that present day structure and pace of corporate life have changed just as the saturation of traditional markets is taking companies to more risky places; the shift towards a knowledge economy is eroding the importance of ‘place’ in the business world; new business practices such as offshoring challenge companies to manage at a distance; and new forms of accountability, such as corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, put added pressure on companies to match their words with deeds, wherever they are operating.
Rachel Briggs and Charlie Edwards writing on, ‘The Business of Resilience Corporate security for the 21st century’, identified that, “security risks have become more complex, too. Many of the threats, such as terrorism, organised crime and information security, are asymmetric and networked, making them more difficult to manage.
“There is also greater appreciation of the interdependence between a company’s risk portfolio and the way it does business: certain types of behaviour can enhance or undermine an organisation’s ‘license to operate’, and in some cases this can generate risks that would not otherwise exist”.
Therefore, it is undisputable that the level of security silhouette in the corporate world today has increased tremendously than five years ago.
“Companies are looking for new ways to manage these risks and the portfolio of the security department has widened to include shared responsibility for things such as reputation, corporate governance and regulation, corporate social responsibility and information assurance,” Wikipedia identified.
Paucity of the problems spurred the minds of intellectuals in Check Point Software Technologies Limited who came up with check point endpoint security. Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos recently, Shmuel Agi, head of Sale, Middle East and Africa, Check Point limited highlighted the challenges companies are facing thus, “As network security improves, criminals are focusing on enterprise endpoints to steal valuable information. Most of corporate laptops and PCs now store proprietary data on their hard drives and many are used regularly outside of the secured environment”.
ICT Brands also gathered how Check Point intend to identify with companies that face hard times when such valuable data are lost, stolen or compromised by Web-based threats, such as drive-by downloads and phishing attacks where laptops can be mined for data or used to penetrate corporate networks and database.
Check Point has is fanning up the trail with her 3D security to defend clients against full spectrum of endpoint attack. How? Check Point recently rolled out her 3D Security vision. It is a redefined 3-dimensional business process that combines policies, people and enforcement for stronger protection across all layers of security—including network, data and endpoints.
“To achieve the level of protection needed in the 21st century, security needs to grow from a collection of disparate technologies to an effective business process. With 3D Security, organizations can now implement a blueprint for security that goes beyond technology to ensure the integrity of all information security.
“Check Point 3D Security enables organizations to redefine security by integrating the 3 following dimensions into a business process: people, policies and enforcement,” said Justice Anyai, security Engineer at Check point.
By policies, the solution supports business needs and transforms security into a business process; it promises security that involves people in policy definition, education and incident remediation; enforce, consolidate and control all layers of security- network, data, application, content and user.
Speaking further, Anyai added that security starts with a widely understood and well-defined policy, closely aligned to business needs and strategies.
Yet, many organizations today do not have such a policy; instead companies rely on a collection of system-level checks and disparate technologies. This can reduce the level of organizational security while increasing the cost of compliance and corporate governance reporting.
“Today’s corporations can now develop a blueprint that supports their corporate and governance needs, while strengthening their information security.
Check Point R75 provides a strong foundation for 3D security in a single, unified solution that promotes the definition of a security policy and process that’s aligned to user and business needs”.
How imperative it is, hence security in this context helps companies invloved to take risks rather than prevent them and should therefore be at the forefront of new business development.
Of course, experts noted six characteristics of alignment between security and the business to include, -The principal role of the security department is to convince colleagues across the business to deliver security through their everyday actions and decisions – not try to do security to or for the company.
-The security department is in the business of change management rather than enforcement and works through trusted social networks of influence.
-Security is there to help the company to take risks rather than prevent them and should therefore be at the forefront of new business development.
-Security constantly responds to new business concerns and, as such, the portfolio of responsibilities and their relative importance will change over time.
Security departments should never stand still or become fixed entities. In many companies today, its role is more concerned with overall corporate resilience than ‘traditional’ security.
-Security is both a strategic and operational activity, and departments must distinguish between these two layers.
-The power and legitimacy of the security department does not come from its expert knowledge, but from its business acumen, people skills, management’s ability and communication expertise.
No wonder Check Point limited dossier that, “users of IT systems are an integral part of the security process. It is often users who make mistakes that result in malware infections and information leakage.
While security should be as seamless and transparent to users as possible, the most effective security is one that engages and educates users on security policy enforcement—as well as their expected behavior when accessing corporate networks and data.
Thus, Check Point R75 plan brings a differentiated, modern approach to security by providing a combination of robust security technology and user awareness.
Check Point’s unique UserCheck technology engages employees in the remediation of potential security incidents and enables IT administrators to tailor policies based on level of risk and user needs.
No just that, the foresight of the software developers could be deduced from the ability of the solution to help companies take proactive steps in enforcing policy than reporting on violations, because network security is about gaining better control over all layers of protection, especially in a world of too many disparate point products, organizations often lose rather than gain control over their security.
With the hype about the tenacity and viability of the solution ICT Brands believes time has come for companies to achieve a higher level of visibility and control by consolidating their security infrastructure and using systems that prevent security incidents rather than just detecting them, particularly now Check Point R75 enables customers to extend the firewall into a multi-function and multi-dimensional gateway that consolidates protection into a single, unified solution.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc held its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos today, where shareholders reviewed the company’s full-year financial performance and endorsed its strategic priorities for the future.
The AGM came on the heels of a strong first quarter in 2025, during which MTN Nigeria invested a record ₦202.4 billion in capital expenditures and posted ₦133.7 billion in profit after tax, marking a major turnaround from a ₦392.7 billion loss in Q1 2024.
This 159% year-on-year surge in Q1 CAPEX—the company’s highest-ever quarterly investment—has gone into expanding network capacity, boosting data speeds, and enhancing service quality nationwide, in response to rising demand for digital services.
The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe (OFR), addressed shareholders, saying: “On behalf of the MTN Nigeria family, I am proud to affirm that our business remains deeply rooted in strength and resilience.
“Our foundation remains solid, and our role within the broader economic landscape is unwavering, even amidst the challenges we encountered over the past year.
“As we reflect on this journey, I am inspired by the resilience of the Board, management, and staff of our Company, backed by the unwavering confidence of our shareholders, the valued support of our customers, and the immense potential of our nation, Nigeria.”
Dr. Karl Toriola, chief executive officer stated: “The year 2024 undoubtedly tested our resilience as we navigated a challenging operating environment marked by severe macroeconomic conditions.
“At MTN Nigeria, we viewed these challenges as catalysts for innovation and decisive action.
“We focused on what mattered most, strengthening the resilience of our network, prioritising customer experience, and accelerating the growth of our commercial operations through our customer value management initiatives.”
However, the company reported a ₦400.4 billion net loss for the year, largely due to ₦740.4 billion in foreign exchange losses from the devaluation of the naira, alongside elevated operating costs, and higher interest expenses. Due to negative retained earnings, the Board was unable to recommend a final dividend for FY 2024, consistent with regulatory requirements.
Looking ahead, MTN Nigeria remains optimistic, citing tariff increases, currency stabilisation, and easing inflation as key factors that will support the company’s return to positive equity in 2025.
Chief Financial Officer, MTN Nigeria, Modupe Kadri, commenting on this optimism said, “Our Q1 2025 results reflect strong operational execution and financial discipline, with service revenue up 40.5% and EBITDA growing by 65.9%.
“We delivered N133.7 billion in profit after tax, marking a significant turnaround from the prior year, while maintaining a healthy cash position and robust balance sheet metrics.”
During the AGM, all resolutions were passed by shareholders, including the adoption of the 2024 financial statements, the re-election of directors, and approval of remuneration policies.
The Q1 2025 report shows the company has returned to profitability and remains committed to strengthening network investments, accelerating digital inclusion, and delivering sustained value to its customers and shareholders.
Nigeria has taken a bold step toward deepening its innovation ecosystem with the official launch of the Start-up Consultative Forum, an initiative designed to accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Start-up Act (NSA) and strengthen the country’s tech startup ecosystem.
While addressing the forum, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who was represented by Barrister Emmanuel Edet, the Ag. Director, Regulation and Compliance described the platform as more than just a stakeholder meeting.
“It is a commitment to building a stronger tech ecosystem through collaboration, inclusion, and data-driven governance, marking a new phase in the implementation of the Nigeria Startup Act,” he said.
He noted that the Nigeria Startup Act is more than legislation—it is a framework for national development. “Startups are not fringe players. They are central to Nigeria’s economic future,” he asserted.
Inuwa further mentioned that over the past eight months, NITDA has driven key activities under the Act. These include stakeholder workshops across 10 states, roadshows at tech events like Lagos Tech Week, the Omniverse Summit, Moonlight Conference and the Akwa Ibom Tech Week, and awareness campaigns through digital and direct engagement.
The forum, according to Inuwa, will serve as a feedback engine, spotlighting regulatory gaps, guiding policy improvements, and shaping a startup-friendly environment.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda and the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA continues to support startups through initiatives like the Startup Portal, tech infrastructure deployment, and digital skill training across the country.
The DG emphasised that for startups to thrive, policies must be inclusive and responsive. “Inclusion is not charity. It is a strategy,” he said, calling for equal representation across gender, region, and sector.
While inaugurating the members if the Conservative Forum on behalf of the Director-General, the Director of IT Infrastructure Solutions, Oladejo Olawunmi, ignited the forum with a call to action, envisioning it as a vital nexus for collaborative breakthroughs.
He inspired the members, saying, “We remain deeply committed to nurturing a space where innovation can flourish, and I call upon each of us to embrace the task ahead by shaping ideas into concrete policy and outcomes that leave a lasting impact.”
Earlier, Victoria Fabunmi, National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), in her opening address called the Forum, a “structured dialogue between those building the future and those enabling it.”
She outlined five key pillars for success: access to funding, capacity building, supportive policy, inclusive innovation, and global competitiveness.
She urged startups to speak boldly, private sector players to offer more than capital, development partners to scale what works, and government to harmonize efforts. “This Forum must be a problem-solving platform, not another talk shop,” she concluded.
With the Startup Consultative Forum now launched, NITDA aims to turn policy into action, ensuring startups are no longer on the sidelines, but at the center of Nigeria’s innovation journey.
The virtual event was attended by private sector players, development agencies, verified Ecosystem Support Organisations (ESOs), angel investors, venture capital firms, and labelled startups from across the country.
The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) issued a detailed advisory on yesterday, warning Nigerians about the growing threat of Ponzi schemes and unregulated crowdfunding scams, particularly in digital assets, agriculture, and real estate.
These sophisticated scams, often disguised under appealing brand names, promise unrealistically high returns, exploiting vulnerable citizens facing economic hardship between 2022 and 2025.
Digital asset scams, like Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) and Chinmark Group, leverage cryptocurrencies’ anonymity and limited regulation. CBEX, promising 100% returns in 30 days, collapsed with over ₦1.3 trillion in losses, using blockchain to obscure funds.
Chinmark, posing as a conglomerate, defrauded investors of over ₦10 billion via social media and religious endorsements. “We are committed to saving Nigerians from the troubles associated with Ponzi schemes,” the NFIU stated, pledging to pursue major actors.
Agricultural Ponzi schemes, such as Farmforte Ltd and Green Eagles Agribusiness, promise unsustainable farming returns, with one Lagos operator collapsing after processing ₦400 million with 16% monthly return pledges. Red flags include guaranteed high returns, unlicensed operations, and reliance on referrals.
The Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 imposes fines of ₦20 million and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for promoting Ponzi schemes, empowering the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to regulate digital assets. The NFIU urged licensing for Virtual Asset Service Providers, advanced fraud detection, and stronger KYC/AML compliance by financial institutions.
It advised the public to verify platforms with the SEC, question return mechanisms, and report suspicious schemes promptly.
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