Securing data to enhance business success

The role ICT plays in today’s business cannot be overemphasised, but there are so many issues involved. To highlight these and chart way forward, Microsoft Nigeria recently organised a forum in Lagos with theme: ‘Current issues in information and communication technologies.’

Anthony Cook, assistant general counsel, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, speaking on cloud computing privacy and security at the forum highlighted some of the issues of concerns to individuals and businesses. Explaining how modern apps transforms an industry, he said, “There are 1.1 billion global smartphone subscribers, still 5 billion non-smartphone users, more than a billion Facebook users, 680 million mobile Facebook users, 175 million tweets generated per day, 2.4 billion global Internet users in 2012 and total amount of digital information in the world is increasing 10 times every five years. The Cloud is the enabling force for all these trends.”

He said cloud services provide cost savings on data storage without compromising on quality.

“Experience and scale enable cloud service providers to provide more robust security cloud services, and enable customers to innovate and operate at a faster pace.”

Highlighting some of the potential benefits for cloud, he said, “It significantly reduces cost of operations, provide new business models, new markets, new services, agility and enhances one’s reputation as market leader in innovation.”

But there are some considerations with cloud such as risks of one’s data being exposed. So users of the cloud need to be cautious in choosing a provider. Cook highlighted how Microsoft has taken a stance to shield users’ data by not providing any government with direct or unfettered access to its cloud users’ data, that if as being reported, governments are engaging in broader surveillance of communications, Microsoft is not involved and is taking steps to enhance the security of its customers while in transit and at rest

On some of the benefits to enterprises or small and medium businesses, Cook said the use of the cloud in data storage brings about scalable cost models, less investment in costly infrastructure, IT investment that is focused on innovation, improved security, market access, and access to best of class technology.

But apart from concerns of a government’s access to individuals and businesses’ data, issues of piracy was also brought to the fore.

Umar Bindir, director general of National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) was also at the forum. He stressed the need for individuals and businesses to protect their inventions because intellectual property protection is a driving force for stimulating innovation in an economy. It was highlighted at this forum how businesses could lose so much if their intellectual property are infringed upon.

Bindir said: “Intellectual Property simply means one’s brain is working and the value of that brain will present some solutions to society.” He said having a patent on an Intellectual Property is like having a certificate of occupancy on a landed property in order to be able to trade with it and make gains. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also represented as the forum because the EFCC Act allows investigation of Intellectual Property infringement cases and people whose intellectual property have been stolen or infringed upon were urged to report such cases.

Pius Okigbo, chief executive, Infosoft, said the court processes in Nigeria are very slow in dealing with intellectual property infringement but said it was important to see such cases to a logical conclusion because stealing of intellectual property stifles on innovation. “We must prevent young people from copying other people’s software and living off it,” Okigbo said.

OLUYINKA ALAWODE