TechCentral

In this episode of TCS+, TechCentral speaks to CYBER1 Solutions executives Jayson O’Reilly, the company’s MD, and Akeel Sayed, head of its managed services division, about the benefits and challenges of using a managed security service provider (MSSP).

The conversation starts by discussing the growing complexity of cybersecurity and the financial motivations driving cybercriminals. With the underground economy expanding, MSSPs must constantly adapt to new attack methods. Early adopters of cutting-edge technology may take on higher risks, but they also build knowledge that benefits future clients, reducing their exposure to emerging threats.

The proliferation of security operations centres in South Africa, now numbering more than 30, is driven by skill shortages and the need for assurance. Many organisations still lack visibility into their network environments, which the experts identify as a key issue. Understanding what’s connected to a network and which applications are in use is essential but often overlooked.

MSSPs also help clients manage budget constraints and meet compliance requirements while keeping pace with fast-moving technological change. South Africa is seen as a testing ground for cybercriminals targeting the broader African market. Clients now prefer flexible, short-term investments over long-term contracts due to the evolving threat landscape. The experts stress the importance of MSSPs staying relevant by challenging vendors and adapting their offerings to new threats like artificial intelligence.

A major concern is the lack of governance in many industries, especially those with strict compliance needs. Organisations are realising the need to think like attackers and continuously evolve their defences. AI is highlighted as a significant disruptor, with MSSPs now focused on securing AI algorithms and leveraging AI to enhance security operations.

The podcast discussion compares MSSPs with in-house security teams, noting that MSSPs offer greater agility and a broader range of expertise. In-house teams often face resource constraints and difficulty staying up to date with new technologies. MSSPs, on the other hand, focus on governance and outcomes, allowing businesses to prioritise other critical needs.

The experts underscore the need for collaboration across the cybersecurity industry. MSSPs can share anonymised insights across clients, helping create a unified defence against attackers. Ultimately, MSSPs provide value by evolving their offerings, focusing on outcomes and using collective experience to keep clients secure in an ever-changing threat landscape.

Don’t miss a great discussion.

Communications minister Solly Malatsi, a DA MP and the first non-ANC politician to hold the key technology portfolio in the democratic era, has been in the job for three months – sufficient time to get a broad handle on the big issues.

In this first interview with the TechCentral Show, TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod asks Malatsi a range of questions about the sector, including his views on how he plans to address some of the more intractable problems in his inbox.

The interview, which was recorded on Friday, 4 October – shortly before he announced he was issuing a policy direction to communications regulator Icasa that could see a big change to empowerment rules governing licensing in the sector – covers a wide range of topics, from Elon Musk’s Starlink to the ongoing feud between the SABC and Sentech.

Other topics covered in the interview include:

• The minister’s engagements with Starlink and the recent meeting in New York between Musk and President Cyril Ramaphosa;

• His views on black economic empowerment and why his top priority is reducing the cost of data and ensuring more South Africans can connect affordably to the internet and online services;

• His plan for private sector participation in the Post Office, and whether the company is really worth saving;

• The war between the SABC and Sentech, and how it can be resolved;

• Future funding models for the SABC and the future of TV licences in South Africa;

• The problems at the State IT Agency, and what the focus should be of government’s central IT procurement and services provider;

• The planned merger of Sentech and Broadband Infraco and why he believes it needs to happen;

• Government’s 40.5% stake in Telkom and what should happen to it;

• The road to digital migration and whether there is still a need for terrestrial television in 2024;

• 2G and 3G switch-off in South Africa and whether this should be mandated by the government; and

• The legislative programme for the department of communications & digital technologies.

Don’t miss the interview! TechCentral

Communications minister Solly Malatsi, a DA MP and the first non-ANC politician to hold the key technology portfolio in the democratic era, has been in the job for three months – sufficient time to get a broad handle on the big issues.

In this first interview with the TechCentral Show, TechCentral editor Duncan McLeod asks Malatsi a range of questions about the sector, including his views on how he plans to address some of the more intractable problems in his inbox.

The interview, which was recorded on Friday, 4 October – shortly before he announced he was issuing a policy direction to communications regulator Icasa that could see a big change to empowerment rules governing licensing in the sector – covers a wide range of topics, from Elon Musk’s Starlink to the ongoing feud between the SABC and Sentech.

Other topics covered in the interview include:

• The minister’s engagements with Starlink and the recent meeting in New York between Musk and President Cyril Ramaphosa;

• His views on black economic empowerment and why his top priority is reducing the cost of data and ensuring more South Africans can connect affordably to the internet and online services;

• His plan for private sector participation in the Post Office, and whether the company is really worth saving;

• The war between the SABC and Sentech, and how it can be resolved;

• Future funding models for the SABC and the future of TV licences in South Africa;

• The problems at the State IT Agency, and what the focus should be of government’s central IT procurement and services provider;

• The planned merger of Sentech and Broadband Infraco and why he believes it needs to happen;

• Government’s 40.5% stake in Telkom and what should happen to it;

• The road to digital migration and whether there is still a need for terrestrial television in 2024;

• 2G and 3G switch-off in South Africa and whether this should be mandated by the government; and

• The legislative programme for the department of communications & digital technologies.

Don’t miss the interview!

Hypa Fibre is a fibre internet service provider focused on underserved markets in South Africa’s townships.

John Githinji, national head of sales at Hypa, which is a subsidiary of telecommunications provider Vox, tells TechCentral’s business technology show TCS+ that the company is using its presence in underserved markets to plug gaps beyond internet services.

In this episode of TCS+, Githinji delves into:

• What Hypa is and its relationship with Vox;

• The death and disability benefit Hypa offers free of charge to its paying customers;

• Why Hypa’s customers take advantage of its death benefits instead of opting for a traditional insurance company;

• Who qualifies for Hypa’s death and disability benefit; and

• The costs associated with the offering.

This episode of TCS+ is not to be missed! TechCentral

Hypa Fibre is a fibre internet service provider focused on underserved markets in South Africa’s townships.

John Githinji, national head of sales at Hypa, which is a subsidiary of telecommunications provider Vox, tells TechCentral’s business technology show TCS+ that the company is using its presence in underserved markets to plug gaps beyond internet services.

In this episode of TCS+, Githinji delves into:

• What Hypa is and its relationship with Vox;

• The death and disability benefit Hypa offers free of charge to its paying customers;

• Why Hypa’s customers take advantage of its death benefits instead of opting for a traditional insurance company;

• Who qualifies for Hypa’s death and disability benefit; and

• The costs associated with the offering.

This episode of TCS+ is not to be missed!

At more than R23-billion/year, Standard Bank Group has the biggest IT budget of any company in South Africa – and quite possibly in the whole of Africa.

The man charged with ensuring the continent’s largest financial services provider is spending that money optimally is group CIO Jörg Fischer, who is TechCentral’s guest in this episode of Meet the CIO, the publication’s monthly interview series presented by Wipro, where, instead of focusing on the vendors of technology, we interview the end users of IT – banks, retailers, manufacturers and more – about how they’re using modern technology to grow their businesses and drive their strategic agendas.

Meet the CIO is presented by Wipro

In this episode of Meet the CIO, Fischer chats about the technology function at Standard Bank Group, the role of a CIO in the financial services industry, the big strategic IT projects which the bank is involved with – and much, much more.

Among other topics, Fischer discusses:

• The career trajectory that resulted in him becoming a top IT leader;

• Why Standard Bank Group spends as much as it does on IT, and where that spending is directed;

• How IT aligns with the group’s strategic focus areas;

• The decision to migrate to SAP’s core banking solution, what was involved, the lessons learned and how the platform is working for the bank in 2024;

• What Standard Bank’s technology stack looks like, and its investment in the cloud;

• What makes a good CIO in 2024, including the skills that are important in the role;

• How Standard Bank is approaching AI – and what it can actually achieve for the bank and its clients;

• How technology is changing the banking industry;

• Standard Bank’s approach to cybersecurity; and

• How Standard Bank attracts and retains IT talent.

Don’t miss a fascinating conversation that provides great insight into how IT has become mission critical in modern banking. TechCentral

At more than R23-billion/year, Standard Bank Group has the biggest IT budget of any company in South Africa – and quite possibly in the whole of Africa.

The man charged with ensuring the continent’s largest financial services provider is spending that money optimally is group CIO Jörg Fischer, who is TechCentral’s guest in this episode of Meet the CIO, the publication’s monthly interview series presented by Wipro, where, instead of focusing on the vendors of technology, we interview the end users of IT – banks, retailers, manufacturers and more – about how they’re using modern technology to grow their businesses and drive their strategic agendas.

In this episode of Meet the CIO, Fischer chats about the technology function at Standard Bank Group, the role of a CIO in the financial services industry, the big strategic IT projects which the bank is involved with – and much, much more.

Among other topics, Fischer discusses:

• The career trajectory that resulted in him becoming a top IT leader;

• Why Standard Bank Group spends as much as it does on IT, and where that spending is directed;

• How IT aligns with the group’s strategic focus areas;

• The decision to migrate to SAP’s core banking solution, what was involved, the lessons learned and how the platform is working for the bank in 2024;

• What Standard Bank’s technology stack looks like, and its investment in the cloud;

• What makes a good CIO in 2024, including the skills that are important in the role;

• How Standard Bank is approaching AI – and what it can actually achieve for the bank and its clients;

• How technology is changing the banking industry;

• Standard Bank’s approach to cybersecurity; and

• How Standard Bank attracts and retains IT talent.

Don’t miss a fascinating conversation that provides great insight into how IT has become mission critical in modern banking. TechCentral

Warwick Ward-Cox, chief technical officer at Network Platforms – a wholesale provider specialising in supporting internet service providers and IT managed service providers – is deeply immersed in the plumbing of the South African technology space, currently supporting over a 100 ISPs and MSPs.

Ward-Cox, who has immersed himself in the world of technology for the past 30 years, is the guest in this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+ business technology show, in which he chats about the work that Network Platforms does and how the internet landscape in South Africa has been transformed over the past 10 years.

In this episode, he discusses:

• Network Platforms, what it does and how and why it’s focus has shifted over time;

• What internet infrastructure in South Africa looks like in 2024, including national long-distance fibre and subsea cables;

• Why some terrestrial fibre routes in South Africa are “challenging”, and why submarine cables along the coastline alleviate the problem;

• Why IP transit to ISPs is a critical service;

• Internet peering in South Africa, how it works and why it’s important;

• The outlook for peering; and

• Why ISPs and managed service providers should choose Network Platforms

This is a great conversation about the development and state of the internet in South Africa, what it looks like and where it may be going. Don’t miss it! TechCentral

Warwick Ward-Cox, chief technical officer at Network Platforms – a wholesale provider specialising in supporting internet service providers and IT managed service providers – is deeply immersed in the plumbing of the South African technology space, currently supporting over a 100 ISPs and MSPs.

Ward-Cox, who has immersed himself in the world of technology for the past 30 years, is the guest in this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+ business technology show, in which he chats about the work that Network Platforms does and how the internet landscape in South Africa has been transformed over the past 10 years.

In this episode, he discusses:

• Network Platforms, what it does and how and why it’s focus has shifted over time;

• What internet infrastructure in South Africa looks like in 2024, including national long-distance fibre and subsea cables;

• Why some terrestrial fibre routes in South Africa are “challenging”, and why submarine cables along the coastline alleviate the problem;

• Why IP transit to ISPs is a critical service;

• Internet peering in South Africa, how it works and why it’s important;

• The outlook for peering; and

• Why ISPs and managed service providers should choose Network Platforms

This is a great conversation about the development and state of the internet in South Africa, what it looks like and where it may be going. Don’t miss it!

Donald Valoyi saw the potential market for on-demand grocery delivery in South Africa early on, and his company Zulzi was a pioneer in the space.

It even went on to help Shoprite Holdings launch the Checkers Sixty60 app.

Zulzi was founded in 2013 as an “aggregator” of various shopping outlets to help consolidate online shopping for customers.

Today the company provides support to Sixty60 and continues to operate as a separate entity through seven of its own “dark stores”, or warehouses.

Zulzi founder Valoyi joins the TechCentral Show to chat about the company's journey, which began with his exit from corporate South Africa into entrepreneurship.

He shares his views on the innovations reshaping the e-commerce sector and how South African businesses should equip themselves to handle competition from international players.

Valoyi also chats about:

• His entrepreneurial ambitions and why he chose e-commerce as his focus;

• The early days of Zulzi, and how he built the business;

• How Zulzi’s relationship with Shoprite and the Checkers Sixty60 app came about;

• Why Valoyi believes the Post Office is key to driving e-commerce growth in South Africa;

• Why the medical sector is ripe for e-commerce disruption; and

• How technologies like artificial intelligence are changing the online shopping experience.

Don’t miss the interview! TechCentral