Telecom
The Importance of Maintaining Network Visibility for your Organization
Organizations have become heavily dependent on their network systems. These device assemblages and interconnections are vital to communications within businesses, and between businesses and the outside world.
But these networks are often at risk of being sabotaged or exploited by ill-intentioned agents. These malicious actors may seek out vulnerabilities within networks and work through them to strike at their target entities.
If companies are going to reduce the chances of being hit by cyberattackers, they will have to gain greater visibility of their networks, so they can monitor the goings-on across them, and take measures to strengthen their defenses.
Network Visibility Defined
Network visibility is being able to access, track, and analyze all components of a network, including the devices and the data that passes between them.
Essentially, it means that you are able to evaluate aspects of a network such as its traffic, performance, applications, managed resources, and data.
In pursuing network security, IT teams seek to identify where data is coming from, where it’s going to, the purpose and type of data, the quantity of data, and whether it’s authorized or not.
In order to achieve network visibility, organizations will have to find ways to monitor network activity with as much detail and consistency as is possible. They can do this with various tools designed for this purpose.
A key issue in network visibility is defining the extent of the network’s reach, and thus, the breadth of monitoring that needs to be done. With more employees working remotely, networks may extend well beyond their employer’s physical offices. All devices plugged into the network need to be visible, regardless of where they are.
Why Organizations Need Greater Network Visibility
Perhaps the most obvious advantage that companies gain when they have greater visibility of their networks is that it lets them detect security concerns or breaches early enough to remedy them.
The nature of cyber threats continues to evolve. And each year, organizations across the world devote a significant portion of their budgets to securing themselves against those threats. Unfortunately, may don’t pay enough attention to shoring up their defenses. As a result, they may fall victim to cyberattacks.
Available data suggest that cybercrime cost businesses more than $1 trillion in 2020. That amount includes both spending on cybersecurity and losses due to cyberattacks. The figure could reach $10 trillion by 2025.
When companies have a better view of what goes on in their networks, they can detect vulnerabilities and breaches, and fix them before they morph into costly incidents.
But the benefits of network security do not merely reside with seeing off cyber threats. Inefficient data transmission through networks is a concern as well. When data clogs up a path, the network may underperform.
Greater network visibility enables IT teams to spot this problem. They could fix it by updating the firmware of the device concerned so that it has a better reaction to network congestion.
Sometimes, networks may underperform because unauthorized devices or software have been plugged into them. This is often not done by ill-intentioned agents; it could simply be employees using company resources when they shouldn’t be doing so. If their employer has greater visibility of their network, they can detect such unauthorized software or devices and remove them.
There could be any number of other problems that a network may have. Whatever they are, it certainly helps to be able to review the entirety of the network, as it could enable the affected organization to discover what those problems are, and quickly troubleshoot them.
Contemporary Challenges To Network Visibility
As businesses begin to realize the importance of network visibility, more of them will take steps to make it a reality within their domains. However, they may encounter certain impediments that prevent them from achieving a reasonable range of vision across their network.
One of these problems is the use of multiple vendors for networks and network components. Organizations go the multi-vendor route as a cost-cutting measure. However, besides actually increasing their costs, the multi-vendor approach also makes networks more complex, thus making them difficult to manage. Ultimately, it could reduce the degree of network visibility that an organization can achieve.
Challenges could also arise when a company operates with a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. While employees will like to work in environments where this policy is in place, it could bring about difficulties in network management. IT teams will need to work out a network visibility strategy that takes devices not owned by the employer into consideration.
Remote work also makes broad network visibility harder to achieve. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more companies have had to make their employees work from home. Their devices will be connected to their employer’s network from remote locations, often on a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Because these devices aren’t as firmly controlled as those owned by companies, things like passwords or access keys are always at risk of being stolen by malicious actors, who could use them to access companies’ networks. Given this danger, it’s important that remote access is covered by network visibility setups, even if it’s sometimes difficult to accomplish this.
How To Maintain And Improve Network Visibility
Network threats may either be external (taking advantage of vulnerabilities that may be externally exploited) or internal (resident within the network). Full network visibility will have to include both these fronts.
There are various technologies that may be used to accomplish a wide, far-reaching view of network setup. But these tools may require the input of a trained IT team to operate as they should.
When developing a visibility strategy, it’s important to work with network security experts that will make implementation and monitoring easier.
Layer3 can provide you with the expertise your organization needs to gain comprehensive network visibility. Our consultants and engineers have a deep knowledge of network infrastructure. They leverage this to provide best-in-class solutions that make your IT setup function optimally.
If you would like to find out more about our network security solutions, click here.
Telecom
Again, Labour Fumes, Threatens Shutdown of Telcos over Non-Implementation of 15 Percent Tariff Reduction
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is threatening to shut down operations of telecommunications companies over their refusal to comment on the 15 percent reduction in telecom tariffs.
Recall that that organised labour, through the NLC, forced the federal government and NCC to reduce the telecommunications tariff hike from 50% to 35% after threatening to shut down telecom operations and the NCC in response to what it saw as exploitative economic policies amidst excruciating suffering, hardship, and deepening poverty.
The government had previously formed a 10-member committee, consisting of five government and NLC representatives, to deliberate on the thorny topic of tariff hikes within two weeks and report back before making a final decision on the new telecom tariff structure.
Consequently, on Friday, February 21, 2025, the committee, at a meeting conducted in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) that lasted nearly three hours, decided on a 15 per cent tariff cut.
According to reports, in accordance with the conditions of the agreement, an official communiqué announcing the tariff reduction was scheduled to be released on Saturday, February 22.
According to Chronicle,iIt was said that the meeting began at 4:00 p.m. and concluded around 7:00 p.m., during which NLC representatives insisted that the tariff hike be withdrawn.
According to sources, after significant pressure from NLC representatives in the 10-man committee, the government and NCC gave up and agreed on the 15% decrease, which the government or NCC should have announced the next day.
However, at the time of this report, no such announcement has been made.
Leaders of the labour union are not taking the government’s failure to announce or implement the 15% tariff decrease lightly, suspecting that they have been duped.
The Labour leaders have therefore resolved to directly confront the NCC and telecommunications operators next week.
Though it has been reported that the date for the start of the industrial action against the NCC and telecom providers has been set and mobilisation is underway, the information is being closely guarded.
One of the leaders of the NLC stated that “We have received directives to commence mobilisation since last week. In fact, the date for the commencement of industrial action against the NCC and telecommunication operators’ offices across the country has been fixed. We have been warned not to disclose the date because the plan is to take all concerned by surprise. We are not giving any notice because we thought we had resolved this matter over a month ago. It is as if we have been scammed. Therefore, we have decided to confront the matter head-on.”
On February 12, the NLC expressed outrage over telecommunications companies’ tariff hikes, despite an earlier agreement with the Federal Government and the NCC.
According to the Labour union, “If the telecommunications companies fail to revert to the old tariff by the end of February 2025, a total shutdown of their operations nationwide will commence on March 1, 2025.”
To demonstrate its seriousness, the NLC declared that, as a first step in resisting the arbitrary tariff hike, it directed that workers and other willing citizens boycott the services of MTN, AIRTEL, and GLO daily between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. until the end.
On Tuesday, February 11, NLC leaders issued a communiqué at the conclusion of their Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, urging workers and citizens to suspend data purchases from telecommunications companies, which have also become one of their most effective tools for exploiting Nigerian citizens.
The communiqué, signed by Joe Ajaero and Emma Ugboaja, Congress’ President and General Secretary, respectively, instructed NLC State Councils and industrial union affiliates to quickly sensitise and mobilise their members and the general public in their jurisdictions.
Ebehijie Momoh (Mrs), the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AfriGOPay Financial Services Limited (AFSL), a subsidiary of NIBSS, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the second edition of Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 2.0).
PAFON 2.0 Ads
PAFON 2.0 will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at the Function Room 1, Oriental Hotel, Lekki Road, Lagos by 9am (WAT).
Register here to attend: https://shorturl.at/IPOjA
The keynote speaker alongside the special guest, Uche Uzoebo, the MD/CEO of SANEF, and others lined-up for the Forum, will focus on the theme: “Bridging the Customer Experience Gap for Financial Inclusion Using AI”, which underscores the urgent need to safeguard digital transactions against emerging threats while ensuring seamless financial inclusion and innovation.
Mrs Momoh is leading AfriGO vision to deliver a seamless, secure and efficient payment card scheme which facilitates faster transactions, reduces card operating costs to enhance the overall user experience for stakeholders, partners, and cardholders.
With over 30 years of progressive leadership experience in the Nigerian financial and payment industry, she has a distinguished career marked by strategic vision and a commitment to delivering exceptional results.
She has consistently demonstrated her ability to drive large-scale operations, enhance profit and loss growth, and lead high-performance teams.
Also, Mrs. Uche Uzoebo is a passionate and renowned expert in financial inclusion, digital transformation, inclusive finance and women empowerment in Nigeria.
Under her leadership, SANEF Limited is committed to achieving excellence, greater growth, development and expansion to stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of PAFON 2.0, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, the co-convener, stated: “As Nigeria accelerates its transition to a digital economy, ensuring trust and security in payments has never been more critical. PAFON 2.0 will serve as a pivotal platform to address these challenges and unlock opportunities for a more resilient and inclusive financial system.”
PAFON 2.0 is open to payment service providers, fintech firms, banks, regulatory bodies, cybersecurity experts, and all stakeholders invested in the future of digital transactions in Nigeria.
Attendance
Register to Attend: https://shorturl.at/IPOjA
As the MTN Media Innovation Program (MIP) 2025 prepares for another cohort, aspiring applicants have a unique chance to gain firsthand insights into this transformative fellowship. On Friday, March 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM WAT, MTN Nigeria, in partnership with the School of Media and Communication (SMC) at Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), will host a webinar featuring past fellows and PAU faculty. The session will explore the program’s curriculum, application process, and the career-defining opportunities it offers for media professionals.
The webinar, designed for journalists, broadcasters, content creators, and digital storytellers, will offer a deep dive into the fellowship’s structure, the curriculum, hands on practicals and also what to expect during the international study visit to South Africa, and how the program equips media professionals with the skills needed to thrive in an evolving industry.
For many media professionals, the MIP fellowship has been a turning point. Past fellows will share personal experiences, discussing how the training at PAU, exposure to global media practices, and networking opportunities with industry leaders helped shape their careers.
The speakers include Sakina Ahmad, a graduate of the Kano State Polytechnic and a reporter at FRCN, Fombina Fm Yola. Frank Eleanya, a senior reporter at TechCabal, and a seasoned technology and innovation journalist with extensive coverage of the Nigerian and West African tech ecosystems and Ebunoluwa Dosumu, award-winning TV presenter and producer, a content creator/brand strategist at WorldPR Media. Nifemi Oguntoye, the deputy head of presentation at TVC Communications will also speak during the session.
Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya, Dean of the School of Media and Communication at PAU, emphasised the program’s commitment to nurturing media professionals: “Given the challenges of today’s fast-changing media space, there is an ever-greater urgency to cultivate a new generation of media professionals who will drive innovation and excellence to meet today’s media needs. SMC will leverage its extensive experience in training media professionals to equip this next cohort. And we will do this with our usual emphasis on creativity and ethics.”
With thousands of applications expected, the webinar will also walk participants through the step-by-step application process, offering tips on how to craft a compelling application, what the selection committee looks for, and how to stand out as a candidate.
Faculty members from PAU’s School of Media and Communication, who play a key role in the program’s curriculum, will also shed light on the learning modules, workshops, and hands-on training that MIP fellows receive.
The MIP webinar is free and open to all media professionals, offering a rare chance to engage with alumni, faculty, and MTN executives in an interactive session.
As the application window for MIP 2025 remains open, this webinar serves as the ultimate guide for anyone looking to take their media career to the next level. With limited spots available for the fellowship, attendees are encouraged to come prepared with their questions and seize this opportunity to gain exclusive insights into one of Nigeria’s most prestigious media fellowships.
Interested journalists, bloggers, and content creators can apply for the MIP 2025 at https://bit.ly/MTN_MIP2025 and can register here for the MIP Webinar.
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