Connect with us

E-Business

IDC Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Web Micro-Site

Published

on

IDC.jpg
Kindly share this post

To mark its 50th anniversary as the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets, International Data Corporation (IDC) on Wednesday announced the launch of a commemorative micro-site featuring highlights from IDC’s history and focusing on new technology market trends and opportunities.

Founded in Newton, Massachusetts by Patrick J. McGovern, IDC’s first publication was the EDP Industry and Market Report, which announced the pending launch of the IBM System/360 in its inaugural issue.

In just a few short years, IDC’s forecast and analysis reports attracted a following among professionals in the nascent computing industry.

As the industry grew and evolved, IDC’s research expanded to meet market needs. In 2013, IDC published more than 4,700 reports, ranging from technology market revenue forecasts and vendor evaluations to deep analyses of industry events and what IT buyers need.

Since its inception, IDC has been an early mover and leader in expanding into international markets, following the expansion of the IT industry as computing power was deployed in businesses around the world.

After establishing its headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts, IDC opened its first international office in London in 1968, followed four years later by an office in Tokyo, its first in the Asia/Pacific region.

Today, IDC has offices in 54 countries and provides research coverage for more than 110 countries worldwide.

With nearly half of its 1,100-plus analysts based in emerging markets, IDC offers an unparalleled understanding of how information technology is impacting local economies as well as the global economy.

Over the course of the past 50 years, IDC’s research has covered the IT industry’s transition from mainframe/terminal computing (1st Platform), designed exclusively for enterprise and scientific use, to client/server computing (2nd Platform), which brought computing to hundreds of millions of users.

As the foundation for each era of computing, the two platforms served as the focal point for industry innovation and growth.

Also, the IT industry is in the midst of another transition to the 3rd Platform, based on the four technology pillars of cloud, mobility, big data and analytics, and social media.

IDC predicts that these 3rd Platform technologies and solutions will drive more than 50% of worldwide IT spending, and nearly 100% of its growth, by 2020.

The application of information technology within businesses has undergone a similar transition as the IT industry has evolved from the 1st Platform to the 2nd and 3rd Platforms.

The IT industry initially offered broad platforms designed to help businesses run more efficiently by automating many operational functions.

As technology became more deeply embedded within businesses, it also grew more specialized and brought about greater collaboration and agility.

Today, technology is an important source of innovation, enabling companies to create competitive advantage and disrupt entire industries with new products and services.

To help business leaders better understand how technology is redefining the energy, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail sectors, the IDC Insights lines of business combine vertical industry expertise with a deep understanding of IT.

“As the first market research firm to cover the information technology industry, we are proud to have played an important role in its growth and evolution,” said Kirk Campbell, president and chief executive officer of IDC.

“Much of IDC’s success can be attributed to the expertise our analysts have developed over the years, and the relationships we have built with the companies that create technology solutions as well as those that use these solutions. All of us at IDC are excited about the amazing changes that technology will bring in the next 50 years.”


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

E-Business

Microsoft Server Hack Likely Solo Actor, Thousands at Risk

Published

on

Kindly share this post

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.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

Flaw in Microsoft SharePoint Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concern

Published

on

Kindly share this post

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.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Business

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

Published

on

Kindly share this post

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.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending