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Experts Predict $120B in Global Spending on Security Products, Services By 2021
By peter oluka
Worldwide spending on security-related hardware, software, and services is forecast to reach $119.9 billion in 2021, according to a recent update to the Worldwide Semiannual Security Spending Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC).
With nearly every industry investing in security solutions to meet a wide range of threats and requirements, spending is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% over the 2016-2021 forecast period.
Worldwide spending on security products and services will total $83.5 billion in 2017, an increase of 10.3% over 2016.
“Three overarching trends are driving security spending: a dynamic threat landscape, increasing regulatory pressures, and architectural changes spurred by digital transformation initiatives,” said Sean Pike, program vice president for IDC’s Security Products and Legal, Risk, and Compliance programs. “While IDC expects spending to continue growing, organizations are actively searching for product and service efficiencies that maximize spend in order to fully address such complex challenges.”
IDC expects security spending to be somewhat evenly spread across four industry sectors in 2017: distribution and services ($19.7 billion), public sector ($18.6 billion), manufacturing and resources ($16.4 billion), and financial ($16.3 billion).
By 2021, however, the financial sector is forecast to move ahead of manufacturing and resources due to a 2016-2021 CAGR of 10.2%. Similarly, public sector security spending will nearly pull even with distribution and services by 2021 with a CAGR of 10.3%. The fastest growing sector over the five-year forecast period will be infrastructure with a CAGR of 11.8%.
“Ever-changing security threats, fear of data breaches, and regulatory compliance will continue to drive security investments across all industries,” said Eileen Smith, program director, Customer Insights and Analysis. “On a global basis, banks, discrete manufacturers, and federal/central government agencies will spend the most on security products and services throughout the forecast. Combined, these three industries will contribute to 30% of the worldwide total spending in 2017.”
In addition to being among the industries spending the most on security solutions in 2017, federal/central government and banking will be two of the industries that will see the fastest growth in security spending over the five-year forecast, with CAGRs of 10.9% and 10.7%, respectively. The industry that will see the fastest growth is telecommunications, with a CAGR of 12.6%. This growth will enable telecommunications to become the fourth largest industry in terms of total security spend in 2021, moving ahead of the process manufacturing and professional services industries.
More than 80% of security spending in 2017 will go to services and software. Services spending will be led by two of the largest technology categories – managed security services ($15.25 billion) and integration services ($12.5 billion). Software spending will be focused on three categories – endpoint security, identity and access management, and security and vulnerability management – that will make up more than 75% of the software total this year.
Hardware spending will be significantly smaller throughout the forecast, dominated by network security solutions ($13.7 billion in 2017).
In addition to being the two largest technology categories, managed security services and network security will also be the fastest growing categories during the 2016-2021 forecast with CAGRs of 14.3% and 11.4%, respectively.
The largest market for security products and services on a geographic basis will be North America with total spending of $37.8 billion this year. The second largest geographic market will be Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at $26.2 billion followed by Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ) at $11.5 billion.
APeJ will see the fastest growth in security spending over the forecast period with a five-year CAGR of 19.9%. Within the region, China and Malaysia will see particularly strong growth with five-year CAGRs of 25.3% and 20.1%, respectively. Latin America is also expected to outperform the overall market with a CAGR of 10.4%.
From a company size perspective, large and very large businesses (those with more than 500 employees) will be responsible for roughly two thirds of all security-related spending throughout the forecast.
IDC also expects very large businesses (more than 1,000 employees) to pass the $50 billion spending level in 2019. Small and medium businesses (SMBs) will also be a significant contributor to BDA spending with the remaining one third of worldwide revenues coming from companies with fewer than 500 employees.
The Worldwide Semiannual Security Spending Guide quantifies the global revenue opportunity for both core and next-generation security purchases.
The guide offers detailed forecast data for security spending by 20 industries across eight regions and 53 countries.
Unlike any other research in the industry, the comprehensive spending guide was designed to help IT decision makers to clearly understand the industry-specific scope and direction of security-related spending today and over the next five years.
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Nigerians to Use NIN Cards for Payments, Cash Withdrawals — NIMC
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said that the new National Identification Number (NIN) card can be used by Nigerians for financial transactions including payments and cash withdrawals, in addition to being used as a means of identification.
Kayode Adegoke, head of Corporate Communications, and Peter Iwegbu, director of Card Management Services, of NIMC, disclosed this during an interview on Channels TV.
Speaking on the card’s multi-functional use, Iwegbu said it will enable users to conduct transactions such as ATM withdrawals, online payments, and money transfers, adding that its chip integrates seamlessly with Nigeria’s banking system, allowing users to withdraw money or transfer funds regardless of the bank they use.
For his part, Adegoke pointed out that to streamline the process, banks would issue the cards.
“The way the card is going to be issued this time around, quite unlike the past, is that you have to get it through your respective bank,” he noted.
Adegoke further explained that while the NIN remains the core element of identity verification in Nigeria, the linked card offers extensive utility.
“The NIN is free, and we are enlightening Nigerians that whenever they go to any of our centres, the enrollment and issuance of the NIN are entirely free.”
According to the officials, NIMC is partnering with various stakeholders, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), to implement the card’s financial features.
This initiative is expected to provide value to banks while including previously underserved Nigerians in financial systems.
“We are bringing to them almost over 100 million possible customers who they can bank with,” Iwegbu stated.
In addition to its financial utility, the NIN card has been designed to enhance security and identification in remote areas.
“It also enables us to financially include some of these people who have been excluded and provide identification for those without means like an international passport,” Iwegbu added.
According to Adegoke, “You can decide the bank you want, the branch you want to pick it from, or even choose to have it delivered to your doorstep.”
Iwegbu assured Nigerians that the initiative is designed to address past challenges, including distribution and acceptance issues.
“The card will solve problems of financial and social exclusion, making life easier and smarter for Nigerians,” he added.
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Meet the Winners of 2024 Africa Tech Alliance Excellence Awards
Africa Tech Alliance (ATAEx) Awards has, again, lived up to expectations by honouring individuals, organizations, and initiatives that have made significant impact on Africa’s tech ecosystem, focusing on categories such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, ecommerce, financial inclusion, sustainability, and emerging technologies.
For the year 2024, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the director-general Nigeria’s National Information Technology Agency [NITDA] received the Digital Transformation Leadership Award. The Digital Transformation Leadership Award is a national technology impact award that recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to advancing technology in ways that drive national development and positively impact society.
ATAEx Award screening committee for 2024 nominated Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi for the award in recognition of his role in transforming Nigeria’s technology landscape, fostering innovation, and supporting inclusive digital progress.
Dr. Ayotunde Coker is one of the leading players in the development of the data centre industry in Africa and is the Chairperson of an influential industry group, the Africa Data Centres Association.
Before joining OADC as Chief Executive Officer, Dr Coker led Rack Centre to become a household name in Nigeria and a leading brand in Africa, with global recognition and numerous prestigious international awards.
Throughout a distinguished international career as a technology and business leader, Dr Coker has held senior positions in finance, energy, management consulting and U.K. Government.
His achievements have been recognised by numerous awards, including the Distinguished Manufacturing Alumni Award (Cranfield Institute of Technology) 2020, and in the same year, he was recognised as one of the Global Top 30 Edge Computing Leaders by Data Economy Magazine.
He holds an MSc from Cranfield Institute of Technology and a PhD (Honoris Causa) from ESCAE University.
Other awardees include;
Blockchain Advocate of the Year – JUDE OZINEGBE, founder/Convener, Cyberchain; AI Startup of the Year – NeuRaL AI; African Cybersecurity Mastery Award – DIGITAL ENCODE LTD; ATAEx Internet Exchange Point of the Year – INTERNET EXCHANGE POINT OF NIGERIA [IXPN]; PR Champion of Africa Award – NEWMARK GROUP LTD; Africa Tech Community of the Year – InnovationBed Africa; ICT Company of the Year – TECOM CONCEPTS LTD; Best Data Centre Colocation Provider of the Year – DIGITAL REALTY [Nigeria]; Outstanding ICT Solutions & Innovation Personality of the Year – HAPPINESS OBIOHA, MD/Sales Director, Tecom Concepts Limited; Mobile App Defense Excellence Award – CED TECHNOLOGIES; Most Innovative Digital Bank Award – PALMPAY, and Life Time Achievement Award in Data Centre Management – DR. AYOTUNDE COKER, CEO, OADC.
Other ATAEx 2024 awardees are; ICT Innovation Storyteller Award – CHINENYE ANUFORO, Head, ICT Desk, Sun Newspaper; Digital Reporting Excellence Award – MARTIN EKPEKE, Publisher/Editor In-Chief, ITPulse; Trailblazer in Tech Award – MONIADE ADENIYI; Global Technology Innovator Award – AYODEJI OGUNMOLA; Tech Visionary Award – OLUWAKAYODE DURODOLA; Rising Star in Tech Award – OLANIYI IBRAHEEM; Business Intelligence Mastery Award – ADEDAMOLA BOWALE; Blockchain Community of the Year – LAGOS BLOCKCHAIN WEEK; Champion of Public Tech Infrastructure Award – GALAXY BACKBONE LIMITED; Direct Selling Company of the Year – QNET.
In his congratulatory message to the award recipients, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, the co-convener, said that ATAEx Awards is part of the annual Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH), which brings together tech leaders, policymakers/regulators, industry experts, and key stakeholders to discuss the latest advancements and challenges in Africa’s digital landscape.
“Recipients are celebrated not only for their achievements but also for their vision and commitment to leveraging technology for Africa’s development”, he said.
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NIMC Introduces Paid National ID Card Amid Low Revenue
Nigerians will start paying for the new national identity card due to low revenue, according to National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Dr Peter Iwegbu, head of card management services at NIMC, said the payment was to ensure that it was produced for only those who needed it.
Iwegbu stated this at the two-day conference organized for journalists in Lagos.
He also added that the decision was made to avoid repeating the mistake of the past efforts to issue physical cards to Nigerians for free, which many did not collect.
“The government’s limited revenue is also a major factor in the decision to make Nigerians pay for the new ID card,” he said.
Iwegbu explained that due to the low revenue generated, the government could not fund the production of ID cards.
Mr Lanre Yusuf, director of Information Technology at NIMC, explained that the idea of a free national ID card in the past was not productive.
“To get the new national ID card, Nigerians will need to make a payment, select a pickup location, and then collect their card from the chosen location. The government has implemented programmes to make the card accessible to the less privileged Nigerians who cannot afford it but require it to access government support.”
“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality,” Yusuf said.
He said that the versatile cards were scheduled to launch soon, and sample test cards had already been received.
“NIMC is working with banks across the country, which will make it possible for people to walk into any bank closest to them and request the card.”
“The new national ID card is a multipurpose card that can serve the purpose of identity verification, payments, and even government services,” he said.
The card will be enabled for all government interventions and services across various ministries, departments, and agencies. The card, powered by AfriGO, was launched in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System.
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