E-Business
Paper versus Digital: The Future of Work
By Somesh Adukia
Digitization is revolutionizing the way businesses operate across the globe, and Africa is no exception. Over the past two years, remote and hybrid arrangements have become the norm in the workplace.
We have seen the proliferation of new digital tools and platforms to support hybrid work, such as video conferencing, cloud-based software, and collaboration platforms like Teams and Zoom.
IT teams have had to support this transition by providing technical support for these new digital tools and platforms, all the while ensuring cybersecurity and data protection, and managing remote access to company systems and applications.
The challenges of navigating digitization in a hybrid working world
Navigating digitization in a hybrid working model can be challenging for both businesses and IT teams.
Research conducted by Walnut Unlimited on behalf of Canon, shows that there is a divide between businesses and employees when it comes to hybrid working. While businesses think they are largely digital, employees are experiencing a host of niggling issues.
One of the most prevalent challenges facing employees working remotely is access to important documents, both digital and physical. This, combined with other related issues (such as difficulties with business processes, and having to visit the office to print, pick up or sign documents in person) suggests a wider problem – organizations have not yet completely rebuilt their business processes to function in a virtual environment.
As a result, we’re seeing employees struggling to perform basic steps in everyday document-based workflows, like processing invoices or contract approval, when outside of the office.
Moreover, equipping new workspaces has been a major challenge for IT teams.
According to 2021 research conducted by McKinsey, 65% of companies had increased spending on digital and technology during the global pandemic, despite significant cost cutting elsewhere in the business. This suggests that most companies are aware that they need to undertake digital transformation, fast.
According to our report, 71% of IT departments say that solutions that would support their hybrid working are not compatible with their legacy infrastructure.
Furthermore, 72% say their printers and scanners used in different locations were not designed to work together.
While companies may have the basics in place, most businesses have yet to rebuild their document-based processes for a new hybrid work. By creating a digital-first culture that empowers employees to work smarter, businesses can help ensure that their digital aspirations are aligned with the everyday work experiences of their workforce.
On the African continent, the challenges that employees face with technology are more complex than regions elsewhere. Some of these challenges are:
- Limited internet connectivity in parts of Africa: In many parts of Africa, internet connectivity is limited or unreliable, which can make it difficult to maintain consistent connectivity between employees working remotely and those working in the office.
- Limited access to hardware: In some cases, employees may not have access to the necessary hardware, such as laptops or smartphones, to effectively work remotely.
- Inadequate IT infrastructure: IT infrastructure in companies may not be equipped to handle the demands of hybrid work.
- Security concerns: Hybrid work can create new security risks for companies, particularly when employees are accessing company data and systems from remote locations.
- Lack of digital skills and expertise: Many countries face a shortage of skilled professionals in the tech sector, which can be a significant barrier to the adoption of digital solutions.
It’s important for businesses to recognize the unique challenges faced by employees in Africa and work to create solutions that meet their needs. To overcome some of these issues, companies can invest in improving internet connectivity and providing access to digital tools and technology to support remote work.
By addressing these challenges proactively, businesses and IT teams can help ensure a successful transition to a hybrid working model in Africa.
The transition to paperless operations
Despite the adoption of digital technologies in the workspace, businesses have still not moved to paperless operations. While digital solutions have made it less expensive and easier to store, retrieve and share information, paper documents still have a place in many business operations, especially in Africa.
A great deal of business on the continent still gets done on paper in the workspace via scanners, printers, photocopy machines and faxes. Many small-to-medium sized business operate in a paper centric environment, using paper as part of their everyday workflow and transactions.
One of the advantages of the blend of paper and digital in the hybrid workplace is its flexibility. The use of digital technologies allows for seamless collaboration across physical locations, while paper documents provide a sense of tangibility and familiarity that can be useful in certain contexts.
To make the most of the blend of paper and digital in the hybrid workplace, businesses must identify which processes require paper documents and which processes can be digitized. This may involve investing in document management systems, scanners, and other technologies that can facilitate the transition to digital workflows while maintaining the use of paper documents in specific contexts.
By identifying which processes require paper documents and which can be digitized, businesses can create a flexible and productive workflow that accommodates both in-person and remote work.
Somesh Adukia is Managing Director, Canon Central & North Africa
E-Business
NDPC to Begin Prosecution of Data Privacy Offenders from 2025
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) will start prosecuting data privacy offenders from the beginning of 2025, according to Babatunde Bamigboye, head of the Legal Enforcement and Regulation Department of the commission.
This move is part of its efforts to enforce regulations and promote responsible data handling in Nigeria.
Bamigboye, disclosed this during a one-day cybersecurity awareness campaign with the theme “Utilising AI-Powered Services for Proactive Cybersecurity” in Abuja.
The event was organised by SOPHOS UK in collaboration with SPOKES Network and Net-Trix Solutions to foster networking with industry experts on how AI is shaping the future of cybersecurity.
Bamigboye explained that, due to the significant implications of data privacy breaches in Nigeria, the commission has embarked on awareness programmes to educate individuals on their data protection rights and inform data processors and controllers of their obligations.
To this end, he announced that beginning next year, the commission would prosecute any data controllers or processors found in breach of the law.
“At this moment, we have investigated quite a number of cases, and in terms of prosecution—as you know, as a lawyer, this means going to court—but we haven’t taken any matters to court yet.
“This is the formative stage; we understand the implications for the country as a whole. And usually, when you talk about prosecution, it also involves some criminal activities. So, at this moment, our focus has been on creating awareness.
“But from next year, we will step up enforcement in this area. What we have done so far is to take remedial actions against certain data controllers and processors who defaulted under the Act,” he noted.
He assured investors that Nigeria’s cyberspace is secure for digital transactions.
“Nigerian cyberspace is safe; otherwise, we wouldn’t be experiencing the smooth flow of digital transactions in Nigeria. It is safe but not without threats, and we are doing our best as a country to combat these threats.”
Christopher Odutola, a sales engineer at SOPHOS UK, noted in his presentation that 100% cybersecurity cannot be guaranteed, hence the need for proactive measures.
“A lot of people will come to you and say, ‘We can give you 99.9% or 100% cybersecurity.’ It’s not true.
“Nobody can provide 100% security anywhere in the world. What they can do, as I mentioned earlier, is reduce the risk for you. However, determining the extent of risk reduction is difficult.
“It’s impossible to eliminate 100% of risks anywhere in the world. What we provide is what we call a cybersecurity breach protection warranty. This warranty covers incidents such as data breaches or ransomware attacks. For instance, if you lose your files while we manage your SOC as a service, we will reimburse up to one million dollars in response costs.”
Odutola further stressed the importance of organisations reducing cyber threat risks to secure cyberspace.
“There are risks to businesses, risks from downtime, attackers, scammers, and the rest, trying to infiltrate networks.
“The risk is always high. As cybersecurity professionals, we are doing as much as possible to reduce these risks.
“The various security controls we implement—antivirus software, firewalls, email security, cloud security, network security, and others—are aimed at reducing risks. We must focus on minimising risks. For instance, we currently see risks originating from third-party suppliers and vendors.”
According to him, “We have a process called risk assessment, which helps to evaluate vendors to ensure they do not introduce risks into our environment. This is why these security controls are crucial.
“We have them in place. It’s equally important to involve senior management in the discussion, as this is often where the gap lies. Unfortunately, cybersecurity is often perceived as a cost centre.”
Harrison Oloye, chief executive officer (CEO) of Net-Trix Solutions, said the event aimed to raise awareness about cyber threats and equip users to manage potential attacks.
“What we did, as Net-Trix Solutions Limited in conjunction with Spokes Network, is to create awareness and educate the public and private sectors on how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to combat cyber threats.”
Speaking further on achievements in creating awareness, he said: “As part of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), we educate and train as many people as possible on the dangers of cyber threats and cyber-related crimes.”
Ms. Sifon Ufot, head of Business at SPOKES Network, emphasised the need to take proactive measures against cyber threats.
“We need to stay cyber-safe because hackers working behind the scenes are not joking—they work 24/7. For us, staying proactive is essential. With the help of AI, we can stay proactive; it provides information beforehand and even prevents some attacks from reaching us.”
E-Business
Nigeria, Others Confront Flood of Cyber-Attacks
Check Point, a cyber security company has reported that Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Morocco are seeing targeted cyber-attacks on government, education, and financial institutions.
In its just released 2024 African Perspectives on Cyber security report, Check Point, said that the cyber security sector is growing by 20-25% annually, fuelled by investments in infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence-driven solutions.
The report said that South Africa has seen 3,312 attacks on government institutions every week and a 90% increase in ransomware, with cybercrime costing the country nearly 1% of GDP.
Kenya, in East Africa, sees 4,719 attacks on the government sector each week, indicating an urgent need for enhanced defenses.
According to the report, Nigeria sees 4,718 attacks every week, which is one of the highest in Africa.
In a recent incident, the report states that a banking trojan assault affected 100,000 customer accounts, resulting in a $3 million loss.
Morocco is one of Africa’s most targeted countries, with 8,733 attacks on government entities reported each week, the report said.
According to Check Point, the Moroccan government recently faced a state-sponsored cyberattack that compromised classified communications, raising significant national security concerns.
“Organisations in Africa are attacked roughly 3300 times per week, if we look at the global average it is about 1 800, it is almost double the attacks,” said Hendrik de Bruin, head of security consulting at Check Point SADC during the presentation.
Check Point noted that the continent’s GDP is predicted to exceed $4 trillion by 2027, and digital infrastructure has emerged as a key driver of economic growth. However, rapid digitisation has resulted in increased vulnerability.
De Bruin explained: “We are slowly, but surely digitalising our industries, we are digitising our governments, private sectors are digitising themselves, so we have got an expanding digital attack footprint.
“We also have cloud adoption, which is not new, but picking up pace in Africa. That is another way that these attackers are using to gain access to organisations, and we also see a large uptake on cloud specific attacks as well.”
E-Business
NITDA Alerts Businesses to Rising Ymir Ransomware Threat
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned organisations about Ymir ransomware, describing it as a highly sophisticated cyber threat targeting corporate networks.
In an advisory released yesterday, NITDA outlined the ransomware’s advanced tactics, including memory-based execution designed to evade detection by traditional security tools.
The malware not only encrypts critical data but also exfiltrates sensitive information before encryption, demanding substantial ransoms in cryptocurrency.
“This ransomware is highly advanced and poses a significant threat to organisations, especially those in industries like healthcare, finance, and IT services that handle sensitive data,” NITDA said.
The agency warned that victims face severe operational disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage. “Ymir’s ability to evade antivirus programs allows attackers to dwell longer in networks, expanding their reach and deepening the damage,” the advisory added.
To counter the threat, the agency urged organisations to take proactive measures, including deploying advanced endpoint detection and response solutions, updating all systems and applications with the latest security patches, and segmenting critical systems into separate network zones.
“Implementing multi-factor authentication across critical systems is crucial to preventing unauthorized access, especially for administrative accounts,” NITDA noted.
The agency also stressed the importance of a robust backup strategy. “Organisations should regularly test their backups for integrity and ensure offline copies are securely stored to avoid total data loss in the event of an attack,” it said.
NITDA emphasised the need for organisations to prioritise cybersecurity in light of evolving threats like Ymir ransomware. It encouraged businesses to seek expert guidance to strengthen their defenses against such attacks.
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