Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 93 | Page 10

NEWS

Check Point highlights growing cloud security skills gap and its impact

Check Point Software issued a stark warning : as cloud environments grow in use , organisations are struggling to protect them due to a lack of cyber security expertise . The 2024 Cloud Security Report indicates a significant gap in skills , with more than half of surveyed security professionals rating their team ’ s capabilities as average or below .

The 2024 Cloud Security Report , conducted by Cybersecurity Insiders in April 2024 , surveyed 813 cyber security experts spanning North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and beyond . Participants included a diverse group of executives , IT security professionals , and staff from a wide range of industries and business sizes . The study conducted an in-depth analysis of how organisations that use cloud services are tackling security obstacles and prioritising advancements , like AI , in this critical area .
“ Organisations must prioritise education and prevention in cyber security ,” says Lionel Dartnall , Check Point Acting Country Manager : South Africa . “ It is concerning that
while 40 % of organisations view prevention and mitigation as their biggest challenge , only 21 % prioritise it . This disconnect suggests that many don ’ t believe prevention is achievable in their current state .”
“ Companies must reassess their approach to security , prioritising prevention , education , and the use of top-tier security solutions . In cyber security , second best is not enough ,” Dartnall adds .
Lionel Dartnall
61 % of organisations experienced at least one security incident related to public cloud use in the past year , a significant increase from 24 % the previous year . Data breaches were the most common and can lead to severe fines and reputational damage . The upcoming NIS2 directive will likely heighten the impact of such breaches .
Lack of security awareness among employees is the top barrier , cited by 41 % of experts . A shortage of qualified personnel is another major concern , with 32 % of respondents identifying a lack of cyber security skills as a key issue for organisations .

Datacentrix , receives four prestigious awards at Southern African Lenovo Awards

Datacentrix , a hybrid ICT systems integrator and managed services provider , has been honoured with four prestigious awards at the recent Southern African Lenovo Awards event . These awards celebrate Datacentrix ’ s exceptional performance , as a Lenovo Tier 1 Platinum Partner for Infrastructure Solutions , PC Group and Intelligent Devices Group , IDG as well as its dedication to its strategic partnership with Lenovo .

For the second consecutive year , Datacentrix was named the IDG Platinum Partner of the Year , reaffirming its position as a key player in Lenovo ’ s local partner ecosystem . Additionally , the company was recognised with the Service Partner of the Year award , further underlining Datacentrix ’ s commitment to delivering excellence in customer service and solutions .
In addition , the organisation ’ s wins for the day extended beyond corporate accolades , with two individual awards presented to members of the Datacentrix team . Anle Els , Datacentrix Product Manager : End User Computing , was acknowledged as the Commercial Relationship Champion of the Year , while Ahmed Mahomed , the company ’ s Group CEO , received the Industry Executive of the Year award .
Commenting on the awards , Els expressed her pride in Datacentrix ’ s enduring relationship with Lenovo : “ We are incredibly proud to see our partnership with Lenovo growing stronger year after year and have full confidence in Lenovo ’ s solutions offering . These awards reflect the commitment and dedication of both teams in driving mutual success in the region .”
Datacentrix provides ICT integration services and solutions to South African organisations , ensuring their success and sustainability into the digital age . The company ’ s approach is to partner with its customers , equipping them with valuable insight and helping to align their ICT undertakings with their business strategy .
Datacentrix offers a deeply specialised skills component and is endorsed by the world ’ s foremost technology partners . The company is recognised for its agility , in-depth industry knowledge , proven capability , and strong overall performance .
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