CIO OPINION
Additionally , these bots can act as strong sales agents , identifying customer needs , recommending products and services , and facilitating purchases , thus driving revenue growth . To maximise these benefits , telecom enterprises should partner with a global engagement provider with unique industry expertise and reliable business guarantees .
By leveraging advanced analytics , AI , and ML , telecom enterprises can enhance customer experience , streamline operations , and unlock new revenue streams . As the industry continues to evolve with the advent of technologies like 5G and IoT , telecom operators must prioritise personalised , omnichannel customer interactions to stay competitive .
Embracing these innovations not only positions telecom enterprises as technology leaders but also ensures they meet the ever-evolving demands of their customers , paving the way for sustained growth and transformation in the digital era . p
How MSPs can help patch security for SMEs
Many SMEs are under the illusion that their size makes them impervious to cybercriminals . Too often small business owners underestimate the knowledge , skills , and ability of cybercriminals to pick the low hanging fruit – those are the businesses that are most likely to lack cyber security measures with the excuse that it is too costly for a company of their size .
Cybercriminals are no long single hackers but entire collaborative networks on a global scale . It is delusional to think these organised hackers only target large corporations with vast resources . It is never a case of the bigger the organisation the more attractive the hit because the yield will be bigger .
In fact , the opposite is true , smaller organisations are more vulnerable due to lack of focus and investment in protection making them prime targets for hacking as they require minimum effort and resources , says .
A cyber breach can have far more sinister implications for small businesses than large enterprises with greater financial reserves and investment in recovery systems . SMEs are characteristically founded by entrepreneurs with a vision to grow their business into a saleable entity , however , a cyber breach can do irreparable damage operationally .
All these impacts can be devastating to the resale value of a business . SMEs need to ask themselves are they willing to risk this outcome .
One area often overlooked by SMEs is the crucial issue of security patching . Security patches are defined as software and operating system updates that aim to fix security vulnerabilities in a programme or product . These updates literally patch a hole in your defence , preventing a hacker or piece of malware from exploiting a way into your network .
The Ponemon Institute are reported to have found that nearly 60 % of data breaches could have been prevented by better patch management .
Ethan Searle , Business Development Director , LanDynamix
If you are clever enough to have taken on a managed service provider , MSP , security patches are often sent as push notifications from the MSP administering your operating system , email , and web applications . One of the major advantages for small businesses who take this approach is cost , and often an outsourced team suits SME budgets better than managing a full internal team .
Patching is an important practice to protect your company against malware , ransomware , and hacking attempts and a good MSP will ensure relevant patches are applied to your devices as soon as possible , thereby greatly reducing the risk to your business .
A skilled MSP will deliver not only best practices in cyber security , but advice on the right technology solutions that will grow and secure your business and turn it into a highly saleable entity .
40 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com