Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacks
Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacks The switch to more computerized information and processes has led to increased productivity and profits for many Kenyan companies, but information security has been neglected, according to IT experts in the country. Many companies in Kenya adopt high-tech hardware and software, but very few are fully investing in information security and frequent audits to identify vulnerabilities, according to John Gichuki, an information security and forensic auditor. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/04/28/experts-kenyan-businesses-unp... Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
IT Security can also be enhanced if we promote the idea of IT experts operating in a legal and regulatory environment. An IT Practioners Management Act would go a long way in ensuring acceptable qualifications, licensing, disciplining, continuous professional development (including periodic training in security). When a doctor is to operate on me I expect him to be licenced; I should have the same expectation of an "IT expert" who wants to operate on my company systems/data. Waudo On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:44:57 -0700 (PDT), "Rebecca Wanjiku" <rebeccawanji ku@yahoo.com> said: Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacks The switch to more computerized information and processes has led to increased productivity and profits for many Kenyan companies, but information security has been neglected, according to IT experts in the country. Many companies in Kenya adopt high-tech hardware and software, but very few are fully investing in information security and frequent audits to identify vulnerabilities, according to John Gichuki, an information security and forensic auditor. [1]http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/04/28/experts-kenyan- businesses-unprepared-security-attacks Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ _________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. [2]Try it now. References 1. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/04/28/experts-kenyan-businesses-unp... 2. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51733/*http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8H... -- waudo siganga emailsignet@mailcan.com
After a close look at the ICT Board program for training their "Pasha" operators especially on the technology to use, I noticed that they are planning to train them on the ICDL curriculum, which is based on Microsoft. What this means is that they are expected to get their Ksh 100,000 loan and then decide whether to buy software or to buy computers, not to mention pay rent and all other startup costs. As you can expect, MS will wait in the wings for them to use unlicensed copies of their software and then pounce on them, confiscating their computers till they pay up. Then as happened with the cyber cafes, they will start looking for Linux installers to migrate them. This will take them back to square 1 to start learning how to use Linux. My suggestion therefore to the ICT Board is to seriously consider starting off these guys on Linux and the OpenICDL curriculum, which will mean that they don't have to buy software they can hardly afford, or use illegal copies and keep looking behind their backs. Not to do this will be to encourage use of illegal software and vendor lock-in. It will also mean that they are setting the stage for mass failure of the whole project. That is my humble opinion. -- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 5:49 PM, Evans Ikua <ikua@lpakenya.org> wrote:
After a close look at the ICT Board program for training their "Pasha" operators especially on the technology to use, I noticed that they are planning to train them on the ICDL curriculum, which is based on Microsoft.
What this means is that they are expected to get their Ksh 100,000 loan and then decide whether to buy software or to buy computers, not to mention pay rent and all other startup costs.
As you can expect, MS will wait in the wings for them to use unlicensed copies of their software and then pounce on them, confiscating their computers till they pay up.
Then as happened with the cyber cafes, they will start looking for Linux installers to migrate them. This will take them back to square 1 to start learning how to use Linux.
My suggestion therefore to the ICT Board is to seriously consider starting off these guys on Linux and the OpenICDL curriculum, which will mean that they don't have to buy software they can hardly afford, or use illegal copies and keep looking behind their backs.
Not to do this will be to encourage use of illegal software and vendor lock-in. It will also mean that they are setting the stage for mass failure of the whole project.
That is my humble opinion.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya
Hi Evans, Perhaps you need to find out from the ICT board what plans they have regarding the software that will be used. It could be possible they have an agreement with M$ to support the project. In the absence of such an agreement, then I do agree with you that the ICT board consider putting Open Source software (Unix or Unix-like OSes (not necessarily Linux) and the accompanying applications) on top of their agenda as this is definately going to lower the costs of the startups. However, one issue will come up: Who is going to provide the training based on Open Source software? Are there recognized institutions that offer training based on OpenICDL program in Kenya? Besides that, let us all not lose sight of the fact that for computer newbies, using M$ would be a lot easier than the Open Source equivalents, especially when it comes to productivity applications. If the entrepreneurs are a creative lot, then they will like Open Source but again it depends on whether they are being given the choice. At the moment, even if that choice was there, it doesn't hold much sway: Microsoft junk is there, seen and tested. Open Source Software is "what they hear about" but haven't seen! Anyway, depending on what the objectives are, the ICT board should come out clear on what software they prefer and why. If I was asked, I'd volunteer to train on FOSS, but I'd have to also give the entrepreneurs the benefit of comparison by setting up Windows versus Unix, and demonstrate bit by bit why I believe one is better than the other. At the end of the day, it will all boil down to cost vs creativity, but I wonder whether "creativity" is one of the ingredients the ICT board is out to promote, or worse still, whether software cost is an issue that they have taken into consideration. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post
Good afternoon, a quick note on the ICDL; Actually ICDL is a standard certification of competencies an individual has in the use of IT; It is broken down into the different modules such as word processor's and databases...etc The curriculum is a non vendor based certification however the mode of delivery is dependent on the implementing organization; I'm leading the implementation of this standard, we are scheduling the implementation of this certification and have had to base this on Microsoft Office for licensing and other matters; I do know that other sister agencies have done this with various implementations indeed including IT Training curricula on open source systems as well, i.e: ILO of the UN un Turin,Italy; It would be a shame to certify this programme on specific vendors where there are other options available. The Computing Society of Kenya or the highest training board in relation to IT should be involved in this aspect as adherence to the accredation. anyone on the list from either? Regards, Patrick On Apr 29, 2008, at 4:49 PM, Evans Ikua wrote:
After a close look at the ICT Board program for training their "Pasha" operators especially on the technology to use, I noticed that they are planning to train them on the ICDL curriculum, which is based on Microsoft.
What this means is that they are expected to get their Ksh 100,000 loan and then decide whether to buy software or to buy computers, not to mention pay rent and all other startup costs.
As you can expect, MS will wait in the wings for them to use unlicensed copies of their software and then pounce on them, confiscating their computers till they pay up.
Then as happened with the cyber cafes, they will start looking for Linux installers to migrate them. This will take them back to square 1 to start learning how to use Linux.
My suggestion therefore to the ICT Board is to seriously consider starting off these guys on Linux and the OpenICDL curriculum, which will mean that they don't have to buy software they can hardly afford, or use illegal copies and keep looking behind their backs.
Not to do this will be to encourage use of illegal software and vendor lock-in. It will also mean that they are setting the stage for mass failure of the whole project.
That is my humble opinion.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
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Choice ought to be considered with the 'seriosity' it deserves. Its like ODM vs PNU. If you dwell on the pros/cons of FOSS/Proprietary you will be left jogging on the same spot. To quote Mark Shuttleworth [Founder of Ubuntu], "Windows is a very important platform, and our justifiable pride in Linux and the GNU stack shouldn't blind us to the importance of delivering software that is widely useful.". The team at Canonical has come up with this innovation called Windows-native installer for Ubuntu into 8.04 LTS. What is really classy about it is the way it uses the Windows Boot Manager sensibly to offer you the Ubuntu option. If I was a Windows user who was intrigued but nervous about Linux, this would be a really great way to get a taste of it, at low risk. Being able to install and uninstall a Linux OS as if it were a Windows application. So, at JKUAT e-Government Academy, its no longer about whats cheaper/better, but when you attend IT courses [including security] there, you get to learn about the whole lot [Foss and Windows] in one course. What you then decide to use in your day to day life becomes your CHOICE!! [Pat on my back] as I acknowledge virtual cheers and ululations from this list. Bill On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 9:05 PM, Patrick Mburu <patrick.mburu@gmail.com> wrote:
Good afternoon,
a quick note on the ICDL; Actually ICDL is a standard certification of competencies an individual has in the use of IT; It is broken down into the different modules such as word processor's and databases...etc The curriculum is a non vendor based certification however the mode of delivery is dependent on the implementing organization; I'm leading the implementation of this standard, we are scheduling the implementation of this certification and have had to base this on Microsoft Office for licensing and other matters; I do know that other sister agencies have done this with various implementations indeed including IT Training curricula on open source systems as well, i.e: ILO of the UN un Turin,Italy;
It would be a shame to certify this programme on specific vendors where there are other options available. The Computing Society of Kenya or the highest training board in relation to IT should be involved in this aspect as adherence to the accredation. anyone on the list from either?
Regards,
Patrick
Hi Bill, I have rested my case with my last post. I look forward to discussing this 12 months down the road. -- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org Quoting Bill Kagai <billkagai@gmail.com>:
Choice ought to be considered with the 'seriosity' it deserves. Its like ODM vs PNU. If you dwell on the pros/cons of FOSS/Proprietary you will be left jogging on the same spot. To quote Mark Shuttleworth [Founder of Ubuntu], "Windows is a very important platform, and our justifiable pride in Linux and the GNU stack shouldn't blind us to the importance of delivering software that is widely useful.".
The team at Canonical has come up with this innovation called Windows-native installer for Ubuntu into 8.04 LTS. What is really classy about it is the way it uses the Windows Boot Manager sensibly to offer you the Ubuntu option. If I was a Windows user who was intrigued but nervous about Linux, this would be a really great way to get a taste of it, at low risk. Being able to install and uninstall a Linux OS as if it were a Windows application.
So, at JKUAT e-Government Academy, its no longer about whats cheaper/better, but when you attend IT courses [including security] there, you get to learn about the whole lot [Foss and Windows] in one course. What you then decide to use in your day to day life becomes your CHOICE!!
[Pat on my back] as I acknowledge virtual cheers and ululations from this list.
Bill
On Tue, Apr 29, 2008 at 9:05 PM, Patrick Mburu <patrick.mburu@gmail.com> wrote:
Good afternoon,
a quick note on the ICDL; Actually ICDL is a standard certification of competencies an individual has in the use of IT; It is broken down into the different modules such as word processor's and databases...etc The curriculum is a non vendor based certification however the mode of delivery is dependent on the implementing organization; I'm leading the implementation of this standard, we are scheduling the implementation of this certification and have had to base this on Microsoft Office for licensing and other matters; I do know that other sister agencies have done this with various implementations indeed including IT Training curricula on open source systems as well, i.e: ILO of the UN un Turin,Italy;
It would be a shame to certify this programme on specific vendors where there are other options available. The Computing Society of Kenya or the highest training board in relation to IT should be involved in this aspect as adherence to the accredation. anyone on the list from either?
Regards,
Patrick
On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Bill Kagai <billkagai@gmail.com> wrote:
Choice ought to be considered with the 'seriosity' it deserves. Its like ODM vs PNU. If you dwell on the pros/cons of FOSS/Proprietary you will be left jogging on the same spot. To quote Mark Shuttleworth [Founder of Ubuntu], "Windows is a very important platform, and our justifiable pride in Linux and the GNU stack shouldn't blind us to the importance of delivering software that is widely useful.".
The team at Canonical has come up with this innovation called Windows-native installer for Ubuntu into 8.04 LTS. What is really classy about it is the way it uses the Windows Boot Manager sensibly to offer you the Ubuntu option. If I was a Windows user who was intrigued but nervous about Linux, this would be a really great way to get a taste of it, at low risk. Being able to install and uninstall a Linux OS as if it were a Windows application.
So, at JKUAT e-Government Academy, its no longer about whats cheaper/better, but when you attend IT courses [including security] there, you get to learn about the whole lot [Foss and Windows] in one course. What you then decide to use in your day to day life becomes your CHOICE!!
[Pat on my back] as I acknowledge virtual cheers and ululations from this list.
Hi Bill, You rightly deserve and earn that "pat on the back". II believe the JKUAT e-Government Academy should be the place where the ICT Board should consider for the training. I like the approach. -- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post
To train in Microsoft or Open-Source? The question is more complex than chosing one or the other. But consider the following facts: Fact #1: Microsoft is on 90% of Desktops Globally. Fact #2: Opensource/Unix has gained strength on the Server platforms (Backend Operations), my guestimate would be 60-75% market share of the Fortune 500. Fact #3: Microsoft is the richest company on planet earth (money can almost buy you anything, particularly influence)
From a training need perspective. We definately need skills on both Microsoft and Opensource(Linux/Unix) arena. However, as a country we need to decide wether we want to continue playing at a 'USERS/CONSUMERS' level or we want to join the big league and become 'PRODUCERS' in the knowledge economy.
Methinks Opensource provides more opportunity in terms of the freedom to opening up, peeping into and modifying what makes the software tick. I think serious governments particularly in Europe and Latin America are making deliberate moves to grow this line of skills accross their socio-economic and educational fabric. It wont and cannot happen on its own - maybe it is what that Grand Agency on ICT in Kenya can digest on. walu. ing st --- Odhiambo Washington <odhiambo@gmail.com> wrote:
On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Bill Kagai <billkagai@gmail.com> wrote:
Choice ought to be considered with the 'seriosity' it
ODM vs PNU. If you dwell on the pros/cons of FOSS/Proprietary you will be left jogging on the same spot. To quote Mark Shuttleworth [Founder of Ubuntu], "Windows is a very important platform, and our justifiable pride in Linux and the GNU stack shouldn't blind us to the importance of delivering software that is widely useful.".
The team at Canonical has come up with this innovation called Windows-native installer for Ubuntu into 8.04 LTS. What is really classy about it is the way it uses the Windows Boot Manager sensibly to offer you the Ubuntu option. If I was a Windows user who was intrigued but nervous about Linux, this would be a really great way to get a taste of it, at low risk. Being able to install and uninstall a Linux OS as if it were a Windows application.
So, at JKUAT e-Government Academy, its no longer about whats cheaper/better, but when you attend IT courses [including security] there, you get to learn about the whole lot [Foss and Windows] in one course. What you then decide to use in your day to day life becomes your CHOICE!!
[Pat on my back] as I acknowledge virtual cheers and
deserves. Its like ululations from this
list.
Hi Bill,
You rightly deserve and earn that "pat on the back". II believe the JKUAT e-Government Academy should be the place where the ICT Board should consider for the training. I like the approach.
-- Best regards, Odhiambo WASHINGTON, Nairobi,KE +254733744121/+254722743223 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"Oh My God! They killed init! You Bastards!" --from a /. post
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Patrick, By default, ICDL here in our market is normally delivered in the MS platform. Its good that you are referring to FOSS implementations of the same in a country like Italy, where inspite of the fact they have a large economy, they still do not see why they should buy software that they do not need to. same goes for countries like Britain, France and Germany who have pro-FOSS policies. Makes me wonder why us poor countries are in the forefront of this yet we don not have money to waste. To answer Odhiambo, its important to note that with the earlier example that I gave of Cybers migrating, they did not migrate because they liked Linux and Open source, or because they hate MS, or because Linux was easy, but because they simply could not afford the licenses. It was out of necessity. The training that they had to undergo or the installation charges were simply not comparable to the high license costs. Its also important to note that the capacity for training on FOSS applications is there in the market. The LPA has enough members who can support this. Some of us had actually applied to do the training on OpenICDL but turns out that we had applied to the wrong people because of the confusion that was there in the board. Since the board also has ICT for development and bridging the Technology divide as some of its objectives, its imperative that they should first consider Open source before going for proprietary software. what governments in SA, Europe and elsewhere have is an official policy that says that they will only go for proprietary software if they cannot find an open source alternative that can do the work at hand. The board should spearhead this as they are closer to the powers that be. -- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org Quoting Patrick Mburu <patrick.mburu@gmail.com>:
Good afternoon,
a quick note on the ICDL; Actually ICDL is a standard certification of competencies an individual has in the use of IT; It is broken down into the different modules such as word processor's and databases...etc The curriculum is a non vendor based certification however the mode of delivery is dependent on the implementing organization; I'm leading the implementation of this standard, we are scheduling the implementation of this certification and have had to base this on Microsoft Office for licensing and other matters; I do know that other sister agencies have done this with various implementations indeed including IT Training curricula on open source systems as well, i.e: ILO of the UN un Turin,Italy;
It would be a shame to certify this programme on specific vendors where there are other options available. The Computing Society of Kenya or the highest training board in relation to IT should be involved in this aspect as adherence to the accredation. anyone on the list from either?
Regards,
Patrick
On Apr 29, 2008, at 4:49 PM, Evans Ikua wrote:
After a close look at the ICT Board program for training their "Pasha" operators especially on the technology to use, I noticed that they are planning to train them on the ICDL curriculum, which is based on Microsoft.
What this means is that they are expected to get their Ksh 100,000 loan and then decide whether to buy software or to buy computers, not to mention pay rent and all other startup costs.
As you can expect, MS will wait in the wings for them to use unlicensed copies of their software and then pounce on them, confiscating their computers till they pay up.
Then as happened with the cyber cafes, they will start looking for Linux installers to migrate them. This will take them back to square 1 to start learning how to use Linux.
My suggestion therefore to the ICT Board is to seriously consider starting off these guys on Linux and the OpenICDL curriculum, which will mean that they don't have to buy software they can hardly afford, or use illegal copies and keep looking behind their backs.
Not to do this will be to encourage use of illegal software and vendor lock-in. It will also mean that they are setting the stage for mass failure of the whole project.
That is my humble opinion.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
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Evans, The fundamental and greater question that you have asked: What, if any, is the official FOSS policy? Dr. Ndemo, my failed attempts to have a conversation with KIPPRA on FOSS was on knowledge of below linked documents. We need leadership that hand holds Kenyans to the abundance world of FOSS benefits. And this should interest media stakeholders .... --excerpt--- Russia case: the Government has revealed to Microsoft that the private press was using pirated software. As a result of this action, the press did sign an agreement and is now paying penalties to the proprietary software company. Such situation is likely to be happening in Africa where Governments always try to control the press. This is an incentive for the press to be engaged in the FOSS movement, migrate to avoid any further pressure and keep its freedom; --excerpt--- Alex --- forwarded message ---- Dear all The report of the Third African Conference on FOSS and the Digital Commons - Idlelo 3 has been published. It is free and available for download on this link http://www.fossfa.net/index.php?q=node/13 You may choose any of the following formats: .odt, .doc, .pdf Special thanks to Edward Yeboah of AITI-KACE ++++++++++++ Bonjour La version française du rapport de la 3e conférence régionale africaine sur les Libres est maintenant disponible pour être télécharger. Il se trouve sur ce lien http://www.fossfa.net/index.php?q=node/13 Les formats suivants sont disponibles: .odt, .doc, .pdf Nos remerciements vont à Edward Yeboah de AITI-KACE ======================== Nnenna --- Evans Ikua <ikua@lpakenya.org> wrote:
Patrick, By default, ICDL here in our market is normally delivered in the MS platform. Its good that you are referring to FOSS implementations of the same in a country like Italy, where inspite of the fact they have a large economy, they still do not see why they should buy software that they do not need to. same goes for countries like Britain, France and Germany who have pro-FOSS policies. Makes me wonder why us poor countries are in the forefront of this yet we don not have money to waste.
To answer Odhiambo, its important to note that with the earlier example that I gave of Cybers migrating, they did not migrate because they liked Linux and Open source, or because they hate MS, or because Linux was easy, but because they simply could not afford the licenses. It was out of necessity. The training that they had to undergo or the installation charges were simply not comparable to the high license costs.
Its also important to note that the capacity for training on FOSS applications is there in the market. The LPA has enough members who can support this. Some of us had actually applied to do the training on OpenICDL but turns out that we had applied to the wrong people because of the confusion that was there in the board.
Since the board also has ICT for development and bridging the Technology divide as some of its objectives, its imperative that they should first consider Open source before going for proprietary software.
what governments in SA, Europe and elsewhere have is an official policy that says that they will only go for proprietary software if they cannot find an open source alternative that can do the work at hand. The board should spearhead this as they are closer to the powers that be.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
Quoting Patrick Mburu <patrick.mburu@gmail.com>:
Good afternoon,
a quick note on the ICDL; Actually ICDL is a standard certification of competencies an individual has in the use of IT; It is broken down into the different modules such as word processor's and databases...etc The curriculum is a non vendor based certification however the mode of delivery is dependent on the implementing organization; I'm leading the implementation of this standard, we are scheduling the implementation of this certification and have had to base this on Microsoft Office for licensing and other matters; I do know that other sister agencies have done this with various implementations indeed including IT Training curricula on open source systems as well, i.e: ILO of the UN un Turin,Italy;
It would be a shame to certify this programme on specific vendors where there are other options available. The Computing Society of Kenya or the highest training board in relation to IT should be involved in this aspect as adherence to the accredation. anyone on the list from either?
Regards,
Patrick
On Apr 29, 2008, at 4:49 PM, Evans Ikua wrote:
After a close look at the ICT Board program for training their "Pasha" operators especially on the technology to use, I noticed that they are planning to train them on the ICDL curriculum, which is based on Microsoft.
What this means is that they are expected to get their Ksh 100,000 loan and then decide whether to buy software or to buy computers, not to mention pay rent and all other startup costs.
As you can expect, MS will wait in the wings for them to use unlicensed copies of their software and then pounce on them, confiscating their computers till they pay up.
Then as happened with the cyber cafes, they will start looking for Linux installers to migrate them. This will take them back to square 1 to start learning how to use Linux.
My suggestion therefore to the ICT Board is to seriously consider starting off these guys on Linux and the OpenICDL curriculum, which will mean that they don't have to buy software they can hardly afford, or use illegal copies and keep looking behind their backs.
Not to do this will be to encourage use of illegal software and vendor lock-in. It will also mean that they are setting the stage for mass failure of the whole project.
That is my humble opinion.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
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Nice topic going.. I have previously written on this list on matters regarding software. Everyone has been very engaged on connectivity/telecom infrastructure issues and hardware has somehow sorted itself out through competition. Software is an integral part of ICT and accounts for the highest expenditure especially on recurrent costs. Software also brings about lots of indirect costs such as security, training, professional fees, ...the list is big. Its important that this matter is given the attention it deserves. With basic operating system and office productivity software costs going to about USD 700, this means we require something like 3 GDP months to get commodity software for a simple workstation environment. We are counting approximately 500,000 PCs in this country and you can do the mathematics to sum up what this really means if licensing compliance is to be aggressively enforced. Honestly, this may even warrant authorities to support piracy indirectly.. How then do we grow into a software services hub when commodity software is drawing that much out of our economy? We would of course require such an industry to earn the country proper foreign exchange to make enough returns on such an investment. The point is, we have to become more open minded with regard to software trends.. Please lets avoid these multinational/international vendor hangovers.. We need to grow our own software development and services industry and this will only compliment other areas we are trying to germinate such as the BPO & Outsourcing. Open Source, SaaS and the like will just serve to provide entry points for our players. Its impossible to give businesses such as the Digital Villages sufficient money (they are supposed to be making money anyway) but by given them information and choice, you will be giving them more than money. I may be wrong but i am little disappointed to see that the ICT board (board and top executives are on this) does not respond to some questions raised here. I would be happy to hear from someone this time round because all the players in the industry are really partners in the development of this industry. Muthoni On Wed, Apr 30, 2008 at 10:04 AM, Evans Ikua <ikua@lpakenya.org> wrote:
Patrick, By default, ICDL here in our market is normally delivered in the MS platform. Its good that you are referring to FOSS implementations of the same in a country like Italy, where inspite of the fact they have a large economy, they still do not see why they should buy software that they do not need to. same goes for countries like Britain, France and Germany who have pro-FOSS policies. Makes me wonder why us poor countries are in the forefront of this yet we don not have money to waste.
To answer Odhiambo, its important to note that with the earlier example that I gave of Cybers migrating, they did not migrate because they liked Linux and Open source, or because they hate MS, or because Linux was easy, but because they simply could not afford the licenses. It was out of necessity. The training that they had to undergo or the installation charges were simply not comparable to the high license costs.
Its also important to note that the capacity for training on FOSS applications is there in the market. The LPA has enough members who can support this. Some of us had actually applied to do the training on OpenICDL but turns out that we had applied to the wrong people because of the confusion that was there in the board.
Since the board also has ICT for development and bridging the Technology divide as some of its objectives, its imperative that they should first consider Open source before going for proprietary software.
what governments in SA, Europe and elsewhere have is an official policy that says that they will only go for proprietary software if they cannot find an open source alternative that can do the work at hand. The board should spearhead this as they are closer to the powers that be.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
Quoting Patrick Mburu <patrick.mburu@gmail.com>:
Good afternoon,
a quick note on the ICDL; Actually ICDL is a standard certification of competencies an individual has in the use of IT; It is broken down into the different modules such as word processor's and databases...etc The curriculum is a non vendor based certification however the mode of delivery is dependent on the implementing organization; I'm leading the implementation of this standard, we are scheduling the implementation of this certification and have had to base this on Microsoft Office for licensing and other matters; I do know that other sister agencies have done this with various implementations indeed including IT Training curricula on open source systems as well, i.e: ILO of the UN un Turin,Italy;
It would be a shame to certify this programme on specific vendors where there are other options available. The Computing Society of Kenya or the highest training board in relation to IT should be involved in this aspect as adherence to the accredation. anyone on the list from either?
Regards,
Patrick
On Apr 29, 2008, at 4:49 PM, Evans Ikua wrote:
After a close look at the ICT Board program for training their "Pasha" operators especially on the technology to use, I noticed that they are planning to train them on the ICDL curriculum, which is based on Microsoft.
What this means is that they are expected to get their Ksh 100,000 loan and then decide whether to buy software or to buy computers, not to mention pay rent and all other startup costs.
As you can expect, MS will wait in the wings for them to use unlicensed copies of their software and then pounce on them, confiscating their computers till they pay up.
Then as happened with the cyber cafes, they will start looking for Linux installers to migrate them. This will take them back to square 1 to start learning how to use Linux.
My suggestion therefore to the ICT Board is to seriously consider starting off these guys on Linux and the OpenICDL curriculum, which will mean that they don't have to buy software they can hardly afford, or use illegal copies and keep looking behind their backs.
Not to do this will be to encourage use of illegal software and vendor lock-in. It will also mean that they are setting the stage for mass failure of the whole project.
That is my humble opinion.
-- Evans Ikua Chairman Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org
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Some of the best security experts are the hackers and crackers themselves-the certifications (if they have them) aren't the base of their skills. The ability to detect and correct security exploits and security holes is largely a matter of experience and ingenuity. Security exploits and holes can be very many and can cross a wide range of devices (basically anything that can be programmed and can connect to a network is lethal nowadays) e.g. I could write a virus or worm than lies dormant on a host portable device until it's plugged into a computer, the virus then creeps into the systems collecting some few info and it returns into the portable device. This device can be mine or anyone else (which I might have sent via bluetooth), the worm can detect the anti virus in the system and when it was last updated and abort if necessary, This is just a quick thought in my mind and one can easily see how it can become far more complex. - Someone intruding a system doesn't have to cause damage to it. - There is a psychology that motivates these people to intrude one system and not another, I hope there is a certification that talks about that. Just because the systems of company X haven't been intruded yet doesn't mean they are secure. - Intrusion can happen from almost anywhere in the world. Someone can be sitting in the middle of L.Victoria with a nice satelitte connection, do the job, damp the laptop in the lake (, catch some fish) and go home. I definitely wouldn't compare to a doctor. waudo siganga <emailsignet@mailcan.com> wrote: Re: [kictanet] Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacks IT Security can also be enhanced if we promote the idea of IT experts operating in a legal and regulatory environment. An IT Practioners Management Act would go a long way in ensuring acceptable qualifications, licensing, disciplining, continuous professional development (including periodic training in security). When a doctor is to operate on me I expect him to be licenced; I should have the same expectation of an "IT expert" who wants to operate on my company systems/data. Waudo On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:44:57 -0700 (PDT), "Rebecca Wanjiku" <rebeccawanjiku@yahoo.com> said: Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacksThe switch to more computerized information and processes has led to increased productivity and profits for many Kenyan companies, but information security has been neglected, according to IT experts in the country. Many companies in Kenya adopt high-tech hardware and software, but very few are fully investing in information security and frequent audits to identify vulnerabilities, according to John Gichuki, an information security and forensic auditor. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/04/28/experts-kenyan-businesses-unp... Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. -- waudo siganga emailsignet@mailcan.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kiriinya2000@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiriinya2000%40yahoo.co... --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
Wesley, You are very right. The problem is even deeper than stated by the article. In my view, it should be seen in three perspectives: 1. Information Security 2. Cybersecurity 3. Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Each of those areas require very extensive actions if we as a country and the users are to gain confidence in the use of ICTs. But first we need to start creating awareness about these issues. Remember the case of cyber attacks on ESTONIA? What about BOTNETS which continue to grow daily? Do we have a KENCERT? What about the now common problem of IDENTITY THEFT We need very strong advocacy in these matters so that ICT users are aware of the security risks they face. John wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000@yahoo.com> wrote: Some of the best security experts are the hackers and crackers themselves-the certifications (if they have them) aren't the base of their skills. The ability to detect and correct security exploits and security holes is largely a matter of experience and ingenuity. Security exploits and holes can be very many and can cross a wide range of devices (basically anything that can be programmed and can connect to a network is lethal nowadays) e.g. I could write a virus or worm than lies dormant on a host portable device until it's plugged into a computer, the virus then creeps into the systems collecting some few info and it returns into the portable device. This device can be mine or anyone else (which I might have sent via bluetooth), the worm can detect the anti virus in the system and when it was last updated and abort if necessary, This is just a quick thought in my mind and one can easily see how it can become far more complex. - Someone intruding a system doesn't have to cause damage to it. - There is a psychology that motivates these people to intrude one system and not another, I hope there is a certification that talks about that. Just because the systems of company X haven't been intruded yet doesn't mean they are secure. - Intrusion can happen from almost anywhere in the world. Someone can be sitting in the middle of L.Victoria with a nice satelitte connection, do the job, damp the laptop in the lake (, catch some fish) and go home. I definitely wouldn't compare to a doctor. waudo siganga <emailsignet@mailcan.com> wrote: Re: [kictanet] Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacks IT Security can also be enhanced if we promote the idea of IT experts operating in a legal and regulatory environment. An IT Practioners Management Act would go a long way in ensuring acceptable qualifications, licensing, disciplining, continuous professional development (including periodic training in security). When a doctor is to operate on me I expect him to be licenced; I should have the same expectation of an "IT expert" who wants to operate on my company systems/data. Waudo On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:44:57 -0700 (PDT), "Rebecca Wanjiku" <rebeccawanjiku@yahoo.com> said: Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacksThe switch to more computerized information and processes has led to increased productivity and profits for many Kenyan companies, but information security has been neglected, according to IT experts in the country. Many companies in Kenya adopt high-tech hardware and software, but very few are fully investing in information security and frequent audits to identify vulnerabilities, according to John Gichuki, an information security and forensic auditor. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/04/28/experts-kenyan-businesses-unp... Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. -- waudo siganga emailsignet@mailcan.com _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: kiriinya2000@yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/kiriinya2000%40yahoo.co... --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now._______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: ngethe.kariuki2007@yahoo.co.uk Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/ngethe.kariuki2007%40ya... --------------------------------- Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email.
John, I talked to a fresh graduate and he told me that in his 4 year degree in IT at a local University there was nothing on Security. What can those training our IT pros say about leaving out such serious topics in their curricula? Whatever happened to churning out full-baked graduates, which is something that has been discussed like forever? -- Evans Ikua Linux Professional Association of Kenya Tel: 20-250381, Cell: 0722 955 831 Eagle House, 2nd Floor Kimathi Street, Opp. Corner House www.lpakenya.org Quoting John Kariuki <ngethe.kariuki2007@yahoo.co.uk>:
Wesley, You are very right. The problem is even deeper than stated by the article. In my view, it should be seen in three perspectives: 1. Information Security 2. Cybersecurity 3. Critical Information Infrastructure Protection
Each of those areas require very extensive actions if we as a country and the users are to gain confidence in the use of ICTs.
But first we need to start creating awareness about these issues. Remember the case of cyber attacks on ESTONIA? What about BOTNETS which continue to grow daily? Do we have a KENCERT? What about the now common problem of IDENTITY THEFT
We need very strong advocacy in these matters so that ICT users are aware of the security risks they face.
John
wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000@yahoo.com> wrote: Some of the best security experts are the hackers and crackers themselves-the certifications (if they have them) aren't the base of their skills. The ability to detect and correct security exploits and security holes is largely a matter of experience and ingenuity. Security exploits and holes can be very many and can cross a wide range of devices (basically anything that can be programmed and can connect to a network is lethal nowadays) e.g. I could write a virus or worm than lies dormant on a host portable device until it's plugged into a computer, the virus then creeps into the systems collecting some few info and it returns into the portable device. This device can be mine or anyone else (which I might have sent via bluetooth), the worm can detect the anti virus in the system and when it was last updated and abort if necessary, This is just a quick thought in my mind and one can easily see how it can become far more complex.
- Someone intruding a system doesn't have to cause damage to it. - There is a psychology that motivates these people to intrude one system and not another, I hope there is a certification that talks about that. Just because the systems of company X haven't been intruded yet doesn't mean they are secure. - Intrusion can happen from almost anywhere in the world. Someone can be sitting in the middle of L.Victoria with a nice satelitte connection, do the job, damp the laptop in the lake (, catch some fish) and go home.
I definitely wouldn't compare to a doctor.
waudo siganga <emailsignet@mailcan.com> wrote: Re: [kictanet] Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacks IT Security can also be enhanced if we promote the idea of IT experts operating in a legal and regulatory environment. An IT Practioners Management Act would go a long way in ensuring acceptable qualifications, licensing, disciplining, continuous professional development (including periodic training in security). When a doctor is to operate on me I expect him to be licenced; I should have the same expectation of an "IT expert" who wants to operate on my company systems/data. Waudo
On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:44:57 -0700 (PDT), "Rebecca Wanjiku" <rebeccawanjiku@yahoo.com> said:
Experts: Kenyan businesses unprepared for security attacksThe switch to more computerized information and processes has led to increased productivity and profits for many Kenyan companies, but information security has been neglected, according to IT experts in the country. Many companies in Kenya adopt high-tech hardware and software, but very few are fully investing in information security and frequent audits to identify vulnerabilities, according to John Gichuki, an information security and forensic auditor. http://computerworld.co.ke/articles/2008/04/28/experts-kenyan-businesses-unp...
Tel. 254 720 318 925
blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/
--------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. -- waudo siganga emailsignet@mailcan.com
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participants (11)
-
Alex Gakuru -
Bill Kagai -
Dorcas Muthoni -
Evans Ikua -
John Kariuki -
John Walubengo -
Odhiambo Washington -
Patrick Mburu -
Rebecca Wanjiku -
waudo siganga -
wesley kiriinya