E-Business
Why Your VPN is Still Using a Rotary Phone: The Modern Guide to Secure WFA
By Ifeanyi Akosionu
Picture this: It’s 2020, the early days of the great work-from-anywhere experiment. I’m in my home office, tropical drink in hand (because hey, remote work!), when our VPN coughs and splutters like a malfunctioning karaoke machine. Suddenly, a crucial client video call disconnects, causing panic and stress – not exactly the image of a seamless, secure WFA environment.
Turns out, those trusty old VPNs were like trying to secure your online bank account with a rusty padlock. They simply weren’t built for the explosion of remote workers. Many businesses faced similar challenges – phishing attacks, data breaches, and a general feeling of being precariously perched on a cybersecurity tightrope.
At inq., we knew the answer wasn’t clinging to outdated technology. We needed a solution as innovative and adaptable as the WFA revolution itself. Enter our dynamic duo: XDR (Extended Detection and Response) and SASE (Secure Access Service Edge).
The XDR Advantage: More Than Just Buzzwords
Think of XDR as your digital security Sherlock Holmes. It analyses every corner of your data landscape, sniffing out anomalies and threats faster than you can say “phishing attempt.” With XDR, you’re not just getting a security solution; you’re getting a comprehensive security operations platform designed to modernise and streamline your entire cybersecurity strategy.
- Limitless Visibility: Hundreds of one-click integrations, a community of extensions, and simple custom ingestion with one Agent. This means you have a 360-degree view of all your operations, eliminating blind spots.
- Limitless Data: XDR allows for action on frozen storage data (like S3) for years of search, threat intelligence, dashboards, reports, and more. Imagine having years of data at your fingertips, ready to be analysed and reported on.
- Limitless Analysis: Machine learning (ML) and threat intelligence work together to identify anomalies and potential threats. You can aggregate results, prioritise, and investigate across multi-cloud environments, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
- Limitless Value: Security is all-inclusive, with no price per seat, agent, or GB ingested. Deploy anywhere—any cloud, on-prem, or both. This flat-rate pricing structure ensures you get comprehensive security without surprise bills.
SASE: The Future of Network Security
Traditional, centralised security solutions are outdated. They’re like trying to control rush hour traffic with a single traffic light. It just doesn’t work. Our SASE approach offers a distributed solution perfect for a distributed workforce.
- Flexible, Consistent Security: SASE delivers a comprehensive range of security services, from threat prevention to NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall) policies, to any edge, ensuring zero-trust network access. This means knowing who is on your network, what is on your network, and protecting assets both on and off the network.
- Reduced Costs: SASE conquers point product sprawl by using a single platform approach and reducing or eliminating capex and opex costs. Say goodbye to multiple security subscriptions and hello to a unified solution.
- Simplified Architecture: SASE consolidates key networking and security functions from disparate point products into single solutions, all easily managed from a single-pane-of-glass management system. This reduces complexity and makes your IT team’s job easier.
- Optimised Performance: Leveraging cloud availability, your team members can easily and securely connect to the Internet, applications, and corporate resources wherever they are located. Whether they’re in a bustling office or a serene beach, their connection remains secure and reliable.
Real-World Impact and Future Trends
The Gartner Report predicts that by the end of 2024, at least 40% of enterprises will be embracing SASE. At inq., we’re not just predicting the future, we’re building it. Our XDR and SASE combo isn’t just about safeguarding your business; it’s about empowering a flexible, efficient, and worry-free WFA experience.
So, the next time you’re sipping your coffee at a café or brainstorming by the beach, remember: with the right security solutions, you don’t have to settle for a rotary-phone-wielding VPN. Embrace the future of secure WFA. Let’s ditch the cold sweat and work smarter, not harder.
Ready to transform your remote work experience and secure your digital landscape? Contact us today to learn how inq. can help you unlock the full potential of WFA in your business—within budget, across geographies, and without a hitch.
Simpler. Seamless. Solutions
Ifeanyi Akosionu is Managing Director – Anglophone WA, inq. Nigeria
National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has urged Nigerian insurance companies to develop and introduce cyber insurance products.
This is in response to the escalating digital risks accompanying global digitalization.
This initiative aims to provide coverage against cyber threats and data breaches, ensuring that businesses and individuals are protected in the evolving digital landscape.
To facilitate this development, NAICOM is collaborating with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
This partnership seeks to promote cyber insurance and ensure compliance with Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulations, emphasising the importance of data protection training for industry practitioners.
Despite the growing threat of cybercrime, cyber insurance remains underutilised in Nigeria. Industry reports indicate that many businesses and individuals overlook the importance of cyber insurance, even as global cybercrime losses are projected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025.
NAICOM’s directive underscores the need for the insurance industry to adapt to the digital era by offering products that address contemporary risks, thereby enhancing the resilience of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Google has increased the price of its Google One subscription in Nigeria.
The tech giant, in a note to its customers, said, “Price will automatically increase to N1,900/month on 28 Mar 2025 for your Google One subscription. Cancel at any time in Google Play.”
The old price was N1,200. Google One, a cloud storage service offered by Google LLC, provides users with a centralised platform to manage their storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
It added that subscribers who do not cancel their subscription will be charged automatically on the payment method they provided.
In the world of technology and entrepreneurship, few names resonate as powerfully as Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa, Africa’s leading technology distribution powerhouse.
Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa
A media-reclusive entrepreneur and quiet achiever, she has made a name for herself not with loud proclamations but through consistent actions that have shaped the trajectory of the continent’s digital economy.
She has steered the company to unprecedented heights, forging strategic partnerships with global giants such as HP, Microsoft, Apple, Starlink, IBM, Dell Technologies, Ring (by Amazon), Cisco, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Samsung, Bosch, Philips, Logitech, and Vivo.
These collaborations have not only strengthened TD Africa’s position as a market leader but have also contributed to the growth of Africa’s tech ecosystem.
At the recently held Accra Synergy Summit, a high-profile event held in Ghana that brought together top strategic partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Mrs Ekeh made a bold declaration: “We are no longer waiting for change — we are driving it. We are no longer spectators in the digital revolution — we are architects, engineers, and visionaries shaping the future.” This statement, emblematic of her visionary leadership, underscores her commitment to driving Africa’s tech renaissance.
Ekeh’s words are not mere rhetoric; they are backed by tangible achievements and a deep understanding of Africa’s digital potential. The data speaks for itself.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Africa’s digital economy is on track to reach $180 billion this year, with projections indicating it will soar to an astonishing $712 billion by 2050.
This growth is not just an increase in numbers — it signifies a paradigm shift in how Africa engages with technology and innovation.
With over 570 million internet users today, Africa is undergoing an unprecedented digital awakening, a number expected to double by 2030 according to the World Bank.
From financial inclusion to business automation, Africa is embracing the digital age at an accelerated pace, with 70% of global mobile money transactions already occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
This widespread adoption is a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of African entrepreneurs and businesses.
The continent’s tech ecosystem is also attracting significant global attention. In 2022 alone, African tech startups secured over $6.5 billion in investments, a clear testament to the world’s belief in Africa’s digital future.
Ekeh’s message is clear: Africa’s future is bright but requires collective effort.
Rapid transformation does not happen in a vacuum. It is built on strategic collaborations and forward-thinking leadership.
According to Ekeh, “This renaissance is not happening in isolation. It is built on the foundation of strong partnerships. It is fuelled by collaboration — between businesses, governments, and technology enablers like TD Africa. Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that Africa doesn’t just adopt technology but creates, innovates, and leads.”
Her words serve as a rallying cry for businesses, governments, and individuals to strengthen partnerships, increase investments, and take bold steps toward excellence. “Africa is no longer just a consumer of technology. Africa is a builder. Africa is no longer following global trends. Africa is setting them. Africa is no longer waiting for the future. Africa is the future,” she concluded.
Chioma Ekeh’s leadership and vision are a testament to what can be achieved when passion, innovation, and collaboration come together.
As Africa continues its journey toward a tech-driven future, her words and actions remind us that the power to shape tomorrow lies in our hands today.
TD Africa has remained at the forefront of Africa’s tech revolution as the market leader in technology distribution.
Under Ekeh’s leadership, the company has not only expanded its portfolio of global partners but has also facilitated the seamless deployment of innovative tech solutions across various sectors.
By empowering businesses with cutting-edge technology, TD Africa is laying the groundwork for an Africa that does not just consume technology but pioneers it.
MTN Nigeria Recovers N32Bn out of N74Bn USSD Debt
Microsoft Confirms Skype is Shutting Down
Trump Ends Funding for Malaria, Other Global Health Programs
NAFDAC Withdraws Registration of Artemether/Lumefantrine Oral Suspension over Stability Concerns
Huawei Trains 70,000 Nigerians in ICT Development
Telecom3 days agoGrab the Shikini Season Deal: Showmax Mobile Streaming for Just ₦1,000
News2 days agoHuawei Trains 70,000 Nigerians in ICT Development
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Recovers N32Bn out of N74Bn USSD Debt
Telecom2 days agoMicrosoft Confirms Skype is Shutting Down
General News3 days agoNAFDAC Introduces Traceability Technology to Combat Fake Drugs
Telecom2 days agoAVEVA Earns Leader Status in IDC MarketScape for MES 2024-2025
Telecom2 days agoMoniepoint and Afrigopay Unite to Drive Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion in Nigeria
Broadcasting3 days agoFCCPC Asks MultiChoice to Halt Tariff Hike for DStv, GOtv Pending Probe