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We’re going to implement the DMARC email security standard for our existing customers, free of charge, as part of our ongoing efforts to help create a safer internet.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) is an email authentication system designed to protect an email domain from cyberattackers who may try to compromise the owner, brand, or business through domain spoofing, phishing, or cyber fraud.
Created by PayPal together with Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and other industry leaders, the DMARC protocol leverages two existing email authentication techniques – SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – while adding a reporting function that provides visibility into the domain owner’s email ecosystem.
As a domain owner, you want to have peace of mind about the emails that are being sent under your banner. Not only for your reputation, but for the reputation of your business, too. You want to know that your staff, customers, partners, and suppliers are receiving legitimate emails from real representatives of your organisation, not scammers impersonating you or your people. DMARC assures all those who receive your emails that the messages are authentic and trustworthy – and that they originated from your true domain.
There were an estimated 3.9 billion active email users last year – and that number is expected to reach 4.2 billion by 2022. Email is a big part of our personal and professional lives – but it’s also an information-rich environment that attracts malicious actors. For cybercriminals, the ability to mimic a business through email is extremely valuable, and could open the door for data theft, identity theft, and account fraud.
More than a million organisations – including Amazon, Apple, Cisco, Dell, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter – are already using DMARC to help secure their email. DMARC is considered best practice by industry leaders around the globe. We’ve decided to deploy DMARC for our customers because we want to make sure that they have comprehensive email protection, in compliance with the latest standards.
We’ve enlisted local technology startup Sendmarc to help us do this as seamlessly as possible. The South African company, co-founded by entrepreneurs Keith Thompson, Sam Hutchinson, and Sacha Matulovich, specialises in DMARC implementation and monitoring.
The Sendmarc software gathers, interprets, and analyses DMARC data reports to provide actionable insights for domain owners. It takes a complex collection of technical data and makes it clear, visual, and easy to understand so that domain owners can see exactly what’s happening in their email environments – and then take steps to address any issues detected.
Phishing plays a role in over 90 percent of all cyberattacks – and that’s why it’s critical for domain owners to be proactive about email security. Brands and businesses can’t afford to ignore the fact that cyberattackers are constantly searching for new ways to steal money, personal information, credit card data, and login credentials. Email will remain a target, but the DMARC protocol can help strengthen cyber resilience at the domain level.
Customers will receive correspondence from BUI, outlining the steps for DMARC deployment and providing additional resources to help them understand the benefits of this email security measure.
The DMARC protocol will then be added to the customer’s DNS, and approximately 4-6 weeks later, the customer will receive a report outlining any issues detected.
Managing cybersecurity for an increased remote workforce requires careful consideration of the people and protocols throughout your business.
South Africa’s nationwide COVID-19 lockdown has made remote work a business necessity. And while you may have supported a handful of work-from-home employees before the pandemic, a rapid transition to a fully remote workforce is likely to test your capabilities. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution when you pivot from a traditional, physical hub to a virtual workspace, but there is one critical concern that should guide your actions: cybersecurity.
Effective cybersecurity requires both visibility and control. When your day-to-day business operations are centralised, it’s simpler for IT personnel to safeguard data and resources. They’re able to monitor networks, supervise hardware and software usage, and help govern employee behaviour to insulate your company from cyberthreats. They’re gatekeepers and guardians with defined perimeters, 360-degree views, and the power to manage endpoints and end users alike.
But what happens when your employees have to work remotely from their homes? What happens when they use household wi-fi, personal devices, and public applications to keep in touch with colleagues and complete job-related tasks? And what happens to your corporate security posture when it’s suddenly linked to domestic ecosystems that you cannot see and do not own?
The digital landscape has been changed by COVID-19. The threat landscape has been changed as well. One of the biggest challenges for cybersecurity teams right now is the protection of remote workers (and workloads) in a fluid environment where the risks have been greatly amplified by the current social and economic circumstances. While businesses are grappling with the coronavirus fallout on all fronts, cyberattackers are looking for novel ways to exploit systemic vulnerabilities and individual fears. Security measures that factor in technological and human considerations are more important than ever before. You need to look at your protocols and your people as you adjust your defensive strategy for the continuing lockdown, and the future beyond it. Our remote-work checklist will help you to close the gaps and strengthen cyber hygiene…
Few organisations were equipped to transform their employees into remote workers at the pace required for sustained productivity after South Africa’s lockdown announcement in March. Travel limitations and retail restrictions also made it difficult to purchase new corporate hardware for personnel to use at home. As a result, there are several remote-work scenarios in play: staff using company-owned devices; staff using their own devices; staff using borrowed devices from friends and relatives; or a combination of these.
A comprehensive policy that outlines the terms and conditions of remote access to corporate resources, as well as the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved, can reduce the risk of costly disputes in the event of a security incident. Your business may also have additional legal obligations regarding the handling of personally identifiable information and intellectual property in such circumstances, and you may need to consult an expert for guidance on the applicable local and international laws.
Make sure that your employees understand the importance of system updates, program updates, and software patches as part of a healthy cybersecurity routine – and be prepared to offer additional support to those who do not usually perform these tasks on their own.
You can also put device maintenance and protection under your corporate umbrella with a cloud-based endpoint management platform like Microsoft Intune, which gives you the ability to manage and secure company-owned and employee-owned Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS devices.
Check that all devices used by remote workers have adequate firewalls and up-to-date antivirus software installed. This is particularly important for the smartphones, tablets, and laptops that employees use personally and professionally.
Windows 10 has Windows Defender Antivirus built in, and if your IT teams are monitoring endpoints with Intune or a similar solution, then you may have additional functionality to improve the cyber safety nets around remote devices.
Your employees’ home office environments may be shared by their spouses, partners, children, roommates, or even tenants. And their home networks may support web-enabled appliances like smart TVs, or IoT automation systems like lighting control, or wearable technology like fitness trackers, in addition to their own portable devices. Every connected item is a potential gateway for cyberattackers.
You can buffer corporate resources against this wider threat landscape by enforcing the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and remote desktop applications. Make sure that remote workers do all they can to safeguard their home wi-fi routers as well, in terms of physical security (making it tamper-proof) and cybersecurity (changing its default password out of the box).
Implementing multi-factor authentication will help you to maintain control over core system access and protect sensitive business data. The extra steps that remote users have to take to verify their identities are essential security checkpoints for your organisation – and additional obstacles for malicious actors.
Phishing attacks are increasing as cybervillains move to exploit the public demand for coronavirus-related news and information. And you may already know that around 80% of data breaches are linked to compromised, weak, or reused passwords. Enabling MFA can help you to secure every employee login, no matter where the employee is located.
You have to account for the fact that technical aptitude differs from person to person, and that remote work in itself may be daunting for employees who are more comfortable in a communal office where the IT department is a few metres away. Make sure remote staff know who to contact for everyday troubleshooting and emergency intervention, so that they don’t have to look for workarounds and quick fixes that could compromise their cybersecurity, and by extension, your company’s as well.
SEE HOW WE DO IT | Step inside the BUI Cyber Security Operations Centre
The COVID-19 pandemic may have pushed you to explore remote productivity earlier than you’d planned – but if you make cybersecurity the guiding principle for your remote workers today, then they’ll be better prepared to face the digital environment of the future.
We’ve embraced the idea of the modern workplace, and we’ve helped many of our customers to do the same. Neil du Plessis, our cloud solutions security architect, will discuss rapid deployment for remote work in our webinar on 27 May 2020.
He’ll be covering key areas including secure connectivity, secure collaboration, and business productivity options for small and medium-sized enterprises, with a special focus on Microsoft Teams.
Ryan Roseveare remembers walking through a Sandton shopping mall with a cellphone in his hand and hearing hushed chatter from the people behind him. “Look, that guy’s got one of those new cellphone thingies,” someone had whispered in amazement. It was the dawn of the new millennium. The world was still getting used to novelty items like mobile phones. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn were on the distant horizon. And digital technology was evolving at an unprecedented speed.
In the year 2000, Roseveare and his good friend, Willem Malan, were working at an IT firm that was struggling to adapt after a takeover. “We saw a very dynamic business deteriorate into a complete mess. It became very clear very quickly that the focus was on the stakeholders instead of the people.”
As the corporate carnage continued, Roseveare and Malan weighed their options. “We knew we didn’t want to do mundane IT. And we knew we wanted to put people first. We soon realised that starting our own business was the best thing to do,” he says. And so, BUI was born.
They started small and focused on their strengths, gradually building up a customer base in Johannesburg before taking on projects from around the country. It was a year before they could afford to move the business out of Roseveare’s house and into a corporate space. But the lessons learned in those first 12 months proved invaluable, and Roseveare believes their success comes down to five key factors…
Johannesburg had been BUI’s main hub since inception, but satellite staff had been supporting customers elsewhere, too. With increasing demand in the Mother City, and a desire to broaden the company’s range of solutions, Roseveare approached Living Tech, a leader in managed services. “We were looking to establish a hub in Cape Town, and we were also looking to expand our capabilities,” he explains.
The acquisition of Living Tech ticked both boxes: BUI gained a metropolitan office in the Cape and a new business arm to leverage in service of a growing customer base. Roseveare was determined to make the integration as smooth as possible for Living Tech employees. “For two years, we didn’t change anything. We didn’t even change the coffee!” It was a thoughtful approach that created an opportunity for new faces to become familiar ones, and for teams to learn each other’s rhythms and routines. And it worked. “We have a very close-knit community,” he says.
BUI’s expansion and continued success didn’t go unnoticed. “We had multiple corporates courting us, trying to purchase us, and we turned down a lot of offers,” confesses Roseveare, adding that he and Malan had similar concerns about BUI losing its unique identity. It was a proposal from First Technology Group CEO Arnold Sharp that finally made them reconsider.
“When Arnold came to us, he understood who we were, what we were doing, and how we worked – and he didn’t want to change us. He wanted us to retain our independence, but benefit from belonging to a bigger family,” remembers Roseveare. BUI joined the First Technology Group in 2015. “It was a positive move. It’s given us more strength, more credibility, more reach, and an ally who appreciates our philosophy.”
Being part of the First Technology Group also enabled greater collaboration within the local IT industry. BUI has had a strategic relationship with Ascent Technology since 2017. It’s an accord that Roseveare attributes as much to their shared mission as to their shared status as First Technology relatives. “I think we’re kindred spirits, as far as businesses go. And our agenda is the same: to transform our customers’ IT, modernise them, and make them secure. It makes sense for us to work together to deliver more value to the people we serve.”
Delivering value to customers is one of BUI’s fundamental principles, and technology vendors and partners have always been chosen with this core tenet in mind. “If you’re going to pin your flag to someone else’s mast, then you better choose wisely,” advises Roseveare. “We’ve been selective. We’ve chosen good partners, and good platforms, and we’ve got it right the first time.”
Going all-in with Microsoft was a key decision, and a natural one. “It was a Microsoft world when we started BUI. That worked in our favour, because we knew the market and we had the expertise. But we also saw how technology was changing society. We knew we’d have the chance to innovate alongside one of the most innovative companies in the world,” says Roseveare.
BUI also has longstanding relationships with Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. “For us, end-to-end consulting means having advanced capabilities,” explains Roseveare. “It means knowing which complementary products and services would best suit a customer’s needs. And it means mastering the skills required to develop seamless, integrated solutions.”
Aptitude is important, says Roseveare, but attitude is paramount. “We’ve got an eclectic bunch of individuals here, and our offices are open, interactive places. We talk, we share, and we encourage friendly rivalry. But there’s a golden thread in our business: everyone has the same drive, and the same passion to be the best.”
The company culture is something that Roseveare set out to establish from Day 1. Working from the spare room of his Parkhurst home, he had the dual responsibilities of new parent and new business owner. Malan, likewise, was balancing his home life with the demands of entrepreneurship and a commute of more than 100km every day. “He used to spend half his salary on petrol and the other half on food,” chuckles Roseveare. “It took a lot of energy, but we did it. We planned, we prepared, and we executed.”
Their personal experiences informed their team-building techniques over the years. “We’ve built a people-focused business with a specific culture around agility, flexibility, excellence, and positive outcomes – for BUI and for our customers,” explains Roseveare. The results speak for themselves: dozens of elite technical specialists; a trophy cabinet full of industry accolades; and an enviable list of clients in diverse sectors. “We’re just warming up,” he quips.
BUI will continue to focus on managed cloud services, cyber security and networking, especially in the local market, where skills shortages remain a challenge for even the largest enterprises. Roseveare is also committed to expanding the company’s footprint internationally.
“We’re putting a lot of focus into growing our customer base in sub-Saharan Africa,” he says, adding that cloud-centric solutions make sense in developing countries where infrastructure and capacity constraints may be obstacles to productivity.
He has similar plans for the BUI base in the United States, but he’s being purposefully methodical about scaling up in a foreign environment. “We’re ambitious about our growth. We do want to become a truly global business. But first, we need to make sure that what we’re doing here can be replicated successfully overseas.”
After 20 years at the helm, Roseveare has every confidence in BUI – and his team. “The people in this company… They’re the ones waking up at dawn to solve problems for customers. They’re putting everything they have, and more, into making BUI a success. Without them, nothing would happen. It’s that simple.”
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan says the company is working to address privacy and security concerns, but cyber experts and government agencies have already raised the alarm regarding:
In response, many organisations have strongly discouraged the use of Zoom, or banned the software altogether.
Likewise, we do not recommend your business use Zoom until these vulnerabilities are patched
OUR ADVICE
Rather use Microsoft Teams. Microsoft’s powerful communication tool is your best option for secure online video-conferencing. If you don’t already have Teams as part of your Microsoft licensing package, the free version is available now. Learn more.
Get the Zoom For Teams add-on. If you’re required to participate in an external Zoom meeting, then use this app to do so from within your Microsoft Teams environment, with full control over your conference participation.
BUI is fully operational during the COVID-19 lockdown period and our specialists are available to help you make the most of Microsoft Teams. Contact us today.
Small and medium-sized businesses are facing unprecedented challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And for those with newly remote workforces, effective teamwork can be one of the biggest issues. After all, how do you work together if you can’t be together in the same location? How do you collaborate from afar when you’re accustomed to in-person meetings and group-level planning sessions? How do you communicate quickly and effectively when face-to-face conversations are no longer possible? Microsoft’s answer is Teams.
Teams is Microsoft’s communication and collaboration hub within Office 365. It’s an integrated software solution that allows people to chat, collaborate, and meet – virtually – whenever they like, from wherever they are.
For the past three years, Microsoft Teams has empowered SMBs locally and globally. Today, more than 40 million people are active on Teams every day, using the secure platform (web and mobile) to carry out essential business tasks and to maintain contact with remote workers, colleagues, managers, customers, and service partners.
Microsoft favourites like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are built into Teams to create a comprehensive shared workspace where it’s as easy to share files as it is to share ideas. Powerful communication tools are integrated as well, to enable one-on-one conversations, group discussions, and online meetings. With Teams, remote workers can:
Microsoft has made the free version of Teams available to everyone in response to the current coronavirus crisis. There’s also a way to explore the benefits of premium Teams even if you don’t have Office 365.
Free Teams. The no-cost version of Teams gives you unlimited chat, built-in group, one-on-one audio or video calling, 10 GB of team file storage, and 2 GB of personal file storage per user. Explore the differences between free and paid plans here.
Teams via the Office 365 E1 Trial. In early March 2020, Microsoft announced a free six-month Office 365 E1 Trial, including Teams, because of the increased need for people to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact us to learn more about this special offer.
Teams via your existing Office 365 licence. Microsoft Teams is part of Office 365. If your organisation is correctly licensed for Office 365, then you already have access to Teams. Talk to your IT staff (or your BUI account manager) about activating Teams if you haven’t already done so. And share the in-depth resources below to help your people maximise Microsoft Teams while they’re working remotely during South Africa’s national lockdown.
This scanning electron microscope image shows the new coronavirus (orange) among human cells (blue, pink and purple). Colour has been added to the scan to better show the virus and its environment. Photo: Courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
With seven confirmed cases of the coronavirus in South Africa, there’s rising concern about the business impact of a health crisis we may not be fully prepared to deal with. There’s an abundance of information – and misinformation – on the web and social media, and some of the news headlines are downright scary. And while we hope our leaders can work together to address the particular challenges of COVID-19, it’s prudent to prepare for a business scenario where remote work is necessary.
If you’ve been watching the news, then you know that several corporate giants have already shuttered their offices. Some companies are encouraging remote work – and others are actually insisting upon it. Much-anticipated gatherings like SXSW, Facebook’s F8, and the Google I/O Conference have been cancelled. And other technology conferences – including the Microsoft MVP Global Summit, the Adobe Summit, and IBM Think – have been converted to online-only events.
Today, whether by choice or necessity, you’re likely exploring ways to keep your teams connected and productive, wherever they are. Now is the time to capitalise on the assets you already have, and to consider those you may need in the future.
WINDOWS 10 | Microsoft’s operating system for PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and IoT devices provides antivirus, firewall, and ransomware protections, plus the universal apps that enable everyday efficiency.
OFFICE 365 | Microsoft’s productivity suite puts popular tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Skype, and cloud-based email within easy reach, so that collaboration can continue no matter the circumstances.
SHAREPOINT ONLINE | Microsoft’s centralised, secure space for file-sharing harnesses the power of the cloud to make it easier for every team member to store, share, and manage digital information – on any device, from any location.
TEAMS | Microsoft’s hub for teamwork in Office 365 allows seamless, real-time communication between individuals and groups through chats, calls, online meetings, and video conferences.
Microsoft has already responded to the increased need for people to work from home. They’re offering a six-month Office 365 E1 trial to eligible customers. The free version of Teams is already open to everyone. Other technology companies have also made resources available to foster collaboration and communication during remote-working periods.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. They take their name from the Latin word “corona”, which means “crown”, and it’s easy to see why when you examine these viruses under magnification: barbs extend from the surface just like the pointed spikes on an ornate crown.
In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The coronavirus dominating the headlines now is a new type of coronavirus. First reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the virus was initially called the “2019 novel coronavirus” or “2019-nCoV”. Since then, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have announced formal designations for 2019-nCoV and the disease it causes.
The virus is officially named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, abbreviated as SARS-CoV-2. According to the ICTV, this name was chosen because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003.
The disease is officially named Coronavirus Disease, abbreviated as COVID-19. The CO refers to corona; the VI refers to virus; and the D refers to disease. The -19 refers to the year (2019) in which the first confirmed case of the disease was reported.
Several organisations (including the WHO) have chosen not to use the official name of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) in their content collateral. “From a risk communications perspective, using the name SARS can have unintended consequences in terms of creating unnecessary fear for some populations, especially in Asia, which was worst affected by the SARS outbreak in 2003,” said the WHO in a statement, explaining its decision to refer to SARS-CoV-2 simply as “the virus responsible for COVID-19”.
At the time of publication, there were seven confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in South Africa: six in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Gauteng. All seven patients had recently visited Italy as part of the same tour group, according to a news report.
South Africans in other parts of the world have also been affected. A 39-year-old SA teacher working in Daegu, South Korea, was quarantined after testing positive for the virus. Two South African crew members working aboard a Japanese cruise ship were treated in hospital after contracting the virus. And more than 180 SA citizens are waiting to be repatriated from China’s coronavirus-hit Wuhan region.
Learn more about the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 and stay up to date with global developments by checking out these resources:
The World Health Organization coronavirus channel is updated daily with the latest guidance from international health experts.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published detailed answers to the most common questions about COVID-19.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering has an online dashboard that uses real-time data to track the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center provides ongoing analysis of the impact of COVID-19.
Certain South African hospitals have been designated as emergency centres for the isolation and treatment of local coronavirus patients. Here’s the current list.
Thankfully, much of the world hasn’t seen any COVID-19 cases or outbreaks. However, with health officials encouraging an abundance of caution and numerous international travel advisories in place, it’s clear that preparation is our best defence.
Here at BUI, we’re putting plans in place to help our customers find solutions that work for them during this period of uncertainty.
So is your company remote ready? Another resource you might try out is Toptal’s Remote Work Readiness Assessment. Find out how remote ready your organization is with their 3-5 minute assessment.
How many “We’re updating our Privacy Policy” emails did you receive at the beginning of the year? Five? Ten? For many people, the dawn of 2020 was marked by a deluge of inbox messages from some of the biggest technology companies in the world. Why? Because California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CPA) came into effect on 1 January 2020 – and Silicon Valley giants had to comply with the new law in America’s Golden State.
California’s CPA is not the only piece of legislation that deals with data privacy. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and South Africa’s own Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) were both designed to ensure that organisations (private, public, governmental and non-governmental) manage sensitive data responsibly.As internet access increases and communities become more connected, there’s a growing need to educate web users about online privacy. Data Privacy Day is a global initiative to create more public awareness about the value of private data: it’s intrinsically valuable to you as an individual, but it’s also commercially valuable to companies and – unfortunately – cybercriminals.
Web-enabled mobile phones, laptops, wearable gadgets, and other smart devices are capable of gathering and sharing substantial information about who you are and what you do… Your name. Your phone number. Email address. Home address. Location history. Search history. Purchase history. If you don’t set boundaries regarding the treatment of your personal data, then there’s a risk it could be used in unwelcome ways.
Data Privacy Day is co-ordinated by the National Cyber Security Alliance, and is observed annually on the 28th of January. This year, BUI is supporting the campaign as a Data Privacy Day Champion organisation to encourage bigger conversations about the importance of being #PrivacyAware. Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter for handy resources and helpful tips. And take action today with these three simple steps to improve your data privacy…
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods whenever possible – especially for critical digital accounts like your online banking profile. Usernames and passwords are no longer enough to safeguard your personal information. One-time PINs, biometric scans, facial recognition, and even voice identification can put extra layers of security between your precious data and the cyber villains who want it.
Review the applications you have installed on your devices – and be ruthless. If you don’t use an app, then uninstall it and delete the associated folders. This will free up storage space, but more importantly, it will get rid of old, outdated, and unmaintained software that could be vulnerable to malware and other threats. Conversely, when you download a new app, read the Ts & Cs from top to bottom and check the permissions and privacy settings so that you can make an informed choice about the use of your private data.
Lock your phone, tablet, and computer screens to protect your data from prying eyes. If you step away to grab a coffee, chat with a friend, or attend a meeting, then you need to prevent unauthorised access to your still-in-use devices. Lock screens are particularly important for smartphones, which are frequently misplaced, forgotten, lost, or stolen. A screen-specific password, PIN, or swipe pattern is one more barrier to help keep your data from being compromised.
Have you heard? Our Cyber Security Operations Center is now open! Take a look inside to see how our security specialists protect and defend critical data 365 days a year…
Microsoft Ignite The Tour Johannesburg takes place from 30-31 January 2020 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Designed to showcase the latest cloud technologies and developer tools, the conference attracts hundreds of delegates eager to engage with experts from Microsoft and its partner organisations.
It’s an exciting time for the South African IT industry, with Microsoft’s local cloud data centres now open, and with the company’s ongoing efforts to empower tech startups and entrepreneurs.
As an award-winning Microsoft Partner and the only South African company to hold the new Microsoft Gold Security Competency, BUI is proud to support Microsoft Ignite The Tour Johannesburg as a Gold Sponsor for the second year in a row.
This conference is a much-anticipated deep-dive experience for IT professionals, but it’s also a premier opportunity for business decision-makers to discover the power and potential of the Microsoft Cloud environment.
You can chat to the BUI team at Booth 202, near Theatre 1 in the main exhibition area, at any time during the event. Our cloud, security, and infrastructure specialists will be available to answer your most pressing questions around cloud migration, data protection, and digital transformation.
Drop by the BUI booth to learn more about our new, 24-hour Cyber Security Operations Center, and to explore a wide range of modern workplace solutions designed to enable secure productivity for your people. If you’re pondering your best path to the cloud, start by having a conversation with us.
Microsoft Ignite The Tour Johannesburg has limited capacity. Submit your application to attend on the official registration page.
Can’t make it? Follow BUI on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter for news and pictures from the conference. We’ll be sharing updates from the Sandton Convention Centre on both days. You can also follow the #MSIgniteTheTour and #MSIgnite hashtags on social media for a real-time stream of content from Microsoft, event sponsors, keynote speakers, presenters, MVPs, and delegates. We look forward to seeing you in Sandton!
EVENT | Microsoft Ignite The Tour Johannesburg
DATES | 30 & 31 January 2020
VENUE | Sandton Convention Centre, 161 Maude Street, Sandton, 2196
WEBSITE | www.microsoft.com/en-za/ignite-the-tour/johannesburg
The service, which is called the BUI Cyber SoC, is a state-of-the-art facility backed by world-class Microsoft security technology, including Azure Sentinel – Microsoft’s cloud-native security information and event management (SIEM) software – to not only manage your Microsoft security landscape but your entire IT infrastructures security landscape. The BUI Cyber SoC is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by certified consultants.
As the first local company to hold the prestigious Microsoft Gold Security Competency, BUI is the leader in security innovation.
“The combination of cutting-edge technology, industry-leading skills, and award-winning service is what makes our Cyber SoC so distinctive,” says BUI Security Manager Hilton Ashford. “It’s a cyber security resource unlike any other in South Africa. We aim to provide a comprehensive, compelling solution for organisations for their digital security.
“There’s a new headline about cyber crime almost every day,” continues Ashford. “And as the threats evolve, so too must our responses. Effective cybersecurity is not a one-time operation: safeguarding sensitive data requires constant vigilance, and not some software you buy.”
The BUI Cyber SoC uses multiple data sources (on-premises or in any cloud) to continuously monitor business environments. Its “tech-agnostic” system integrates with existing applications and products, including other security products and platforms as well as custom enterprise tools to provide a robust security overview for your unique security landscape.
With cloud-powered data collection and processing, threats are detected, analysed and managed in near real-time, while machine learning minimises false positives. Businesses have full visibility across the security landscape (with situational awareness of applications, devices, servers and users) on a continuous basis. The BUI Cyber SoC is billed based on each client’s usage, lowering the barrier to entry and overall costs and allowing for virtually unlimited capacity.
Can you believe that GovTech is now in its 13th year? South Africa’s annual government technology conference, hosted by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), will be held at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal from 27-30 October. We’re going to be there!
The theme for this year’s event is Digital Transformation: Gearing Towards the 4IR and Beyond – a timely topic as organisations and businesses across the country continue to embrace local cloud technology.
Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says the government has already laid the foundation for a national response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and is committed to empowering people with the digital skills required to help drive change in the country.
“As a nation, we have lofty targets to meet in creating digital skill sets pertinent to the 4IR and the digital economy,” Ndabeni-Abrahams explains.
The GovTech conference boasts high-profile sponsors including Microsoft, Vodacom, and Huawei, and premier ICT companies and service providers will be showcasing their products in the exhibition halls while panel discussions and presentations take place in the main venue.
Make sure you stop by the BUI booth to say hello to our national sales manager, Paul Wallett. He’ll be on site to answer all your questions about digital transformation, cloud technology, and our award-winning services and solutions.
Visit the official GovTech 2019 website for more information, or to register for the event. And be sure to follow the #GovTech2019 and #GovTechZA hashtags on social media for more news and updates. We’ll see you there, soon!
