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By Mandy Duncan, Country Manager for HPE Aruba Networking South Africa Ransomware is becoming a major headache for businesses in South Africa. Recent research from Interpol shows that, on average, cyberattacks on organisations across Africa have surged by 23% year-on-year, with ransomware quickly becoming one of the most prevalent threats. Dealing with ransomware effectively often means using a mix of security solutions. However, if these solutions aren’t well-coordinated, it can lead to complexity, inconsistencies, and gaps in security. This makes it harder for teams to carry out the essential functions needed to guard against ransomware threats. Resources such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 can help businesses reduce cybersecurity risk [i] as it outlines six key functions, acting as a guide for organisations aiming to bolster their defenses. Given this context, AI-powered networking solutions can play a pivota...

By Mandy Duncan, Country Manager for HPE Aruba Networking South Africa The recent drafting of South Africa’s national policy framework for artificial intelligence (AI) by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is a significant milestone for the nation. As the department describes it, this framework is the “first step” in crafting a comprehensive national AI policy. Importantly, as AI introduces new surfaces for potential attacks, it also presents a timely opportunity for the newly elected coalition government to reassess and fortify South Africa’s broader cyber security policies and measures. Huge potential exists in South Africa’s rapidly developing cyber landscape, which is unlocking new ways of working while creating jobs to grow every sector of the local economy. However, this also means the risks associated with an increasingly digital economy need to be addressed with practical actions. It’s been almost ten years since the local government in South Africa publi...

  By Mandy Duncan, Country Manager for HPE Aruba Networking South Africa Animal tracking is among the oldest forms of science in recorded history, its origins dating back tens of thousands of years. Despite its importance to understanding the world around us, trackers have long struggled with issues like incomplete records or poor connectivity in the field. These trackers are collecting precious data that can help conservation efforts, and, as such, they need access to real-time information and historical records.   This information is particularly pertinent, given the rate at which climate disasters are  threatening the survival of at-risk species . Trackers need to be able to quickly identify signs of animal life, like paw prints, droppings, or trail paths, and seamlessly communicate with others in the field. This real-time connectivity is critical to the future of this ancient art form.   A primer on animal tracking It sounds simple, but what actually is...

By Mandy Duncan, Country Manager for HPE Aruba Networking South Africa It is easy to take technology like connectivity for granted when everything is working as it should. However, earlier this year as companies across South Africa abruptly lost access to everything from their e-mail systems to video-conferencing tools and websites, that invisible infrastructure that powers people’s day-to-day business lives was suddenly a critical point of focus. While it was later discovered that undersea cable failures between South Africa and Europe were responsible for the internet chaos across the country – an incident entirely beyond the control of local IT departments – it did prompt business leaders to consider the severe ramifications of poor connectivity and spotlighted the crucial role of network resilience. Downtime can quickly become a costly business, with the Central Bank estimating that the energy crisis alone reduced the nation’s economic growth rate by as much 3.2 percentage po...

Author: Mandy Duncan, HPE Aruba Networking Country Manager, South Africa With Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations dominating the news, you’ve likely already heard how AI for IT Operations (AIOps) is set to revolutionise almost everything. Like many other local business leaders, you probably have high expectations of the benefits AI will bring to your IT department. Indeed, almost 50% of South African organisations say this is the most important area where they expect to see performance improvements. Not surprisingly, for most, elevated customer experience is the top anticipated outcome.   To benefit even further from advances in AI, the next thing that should be on your radar is something called AI Networking, which will be particularly relevant if you’re responsible for wireless, wired, and wide area networks (WAN).   Before we explore this new facet of AI innovation, let’s take a step back. Reviewing a few definitions will help you better understand the key characteris...

B y Mandy Duncan, Aruba Country Manager South Africa The pandemic changed not only our lives, but also the way we work. Employees' needs shifted drastically during and post-pandemic, something organisations and HR cannot overlook. After a long period of working entirely remotely, many of us are coming back to the office and embracing hybrid work. Indeed, almost half of South African workers say they have returned to the office full-time. Inevitably, HR and IT stakeholders must address several hybrid work problems, which range from reinforcing inclusivity to fostering office culture. This is especially true for younger South Africans, who seem to be the hardest to lure back to the office.   But how can local HR practitioners make the office space attractive for younger employees?   We recently collaborated with Leesman, a leading global provider of original research on workplace quality and employee satisfaction, to create a report that utilises their insights and l...

Mandy Duncan, Aruba Country Manager South Africa In today’s digital economy, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has historically always been well-acquainted with the enterprise network. After all, without a solid understanding of the network, how it operates, its associated costs and savings, and its impact on the business, CFOs would not be able to perform their role as the final sign off on all buying decisions, including network investment. However, this relationship is changing. And it’s changing in a way that I think will be quite attractive to CFOs. Why? Because new developments are meaning that network investment is becoming much more reliable, predictable and profitable than before. Here’s how. 1.       The business case is clearer than ever Discussions around investing in the network have moved well-beyond providing proof of ROI. Even if it’s not an explicit bid for network investment, the reality of today’s digital world is that the majority ...

Fact: SD-WAN solutions now incorporate firewall capabilities that enable organisations to perform quick deployments without compromising security. By Mandy Duncan, Aruba Country Manager South Africa  Originally created primarily to support WAN virtualisation, SD-WAN capabilities have evolved to manage more aspects of the network—including security. Today,  secure SD-WA N solutions  have also enabled IT teams to eliminate branch firewalls in favour of a simplified branch WAN infrastructure. There are many reasons why. As network architecture continues to shift to the cloud, branch offices must now tackle new security challenges as the network grows more complex as more users connect outside the traditional security perimeter. At the same time, enterprises want additional flexibility to cope with the growing number of cloud applications, the ability to open new branches faster or host new applications more quickly. The traditional network structure, built on MPLS, routers, ...