Here’s a rewritten version of the content with a provocative tone:

The Identity Crisis: Are You Secure?

In the wild west of IT, users need access to resources and systems to get the job done. But, IT departments must ensure that each user’s access is appropriate and secure, or else the whole system comes crashing down. That’s where identity access management (IAM) and privileged access management (PAM) come in – the unsung heroes of cybersecurity.

But, let’s be real, managing access isn’t a walk in the park. When employees leave or change roles, companies are left scrambling to remove their access, leaving the door open for hackers to waltz in. "It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack," says Nomalizo Hlazo, Investec’s head of security and governance. "Manual processes are a recipe for disaster."

And don’t even get us started on traditional IAM systems. They’re like a patchwork quilt of different platforms and applications, making it impossible to ensure consistency across the board. In the financial services industry, where trust is everything, non-compliance can result in financial penalties of up to R10 million and criminal charges. Yikes!

So, what’s the solution? Hlazo says it’s all about having a framework. "You need to understand what your objectives are for your access management strategy and then implement against those objectives." And, let’s be real, automation is key. "If you’re not reviewing access rights periodically, you’re missing areas where you have not applied the correct changes. This creates risk and can also lead to policy violations."

But, here’s the thing – identities are evolving. They’re not just about users anymore. "At some point, we’re going to have AI with identities and it’s just going to keep going," says Hlazo. And, with the rise of non-human entities like machines, applications, and bots, modern IAM frameworks need to account for these new identities.

So, what’s the takeaway? IAM and PAM are not just buzzwords – they’re the keys to unlocking a secure IT environment. And, with the stakes higher than ever, it’s time to get serious about access management. "We need to move beyond IAM and implement Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)," says Gary Allemann, Master Data Management’s managing director. "ABAC goes beyond user identity, considering factors like device, location, and data sensitivity when granting access. This creates a more granular and data-centric security approach."

So, are you ready to take your access management to the next level?

Here’s a rewritten version of the content with a provocative tone:

The Rise of AI: A New Era of Revolution or Destruction?

The South African government has finally released its long-awaited national AI policy framework, but will it be enough to tame the beast of artificial intelligence?

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

The department of communications & digital technologies claims that this framework is the "first step" towards developing a national AI policy, but is it really? Or is it just a smokescreen for the government’s real intentions: to control the narrative and harness AI for its own purposes?

The Risks of Unchecked Power

The document highlights the potential risks of AI, such as job displacement, privacy concerns, and ethical dilemmas. But will these warnings fall on deaf ears? The government’s own words seem to suggest that they are more interested in harnessing AI’s potential for economic growth and public services than in addressing its potential drawbacks.

A Recipe for Disaster

The framework’s emphasis on "sectoral strategies" and "tailored strategies" sounds like a recipe for disaster. How can we be sure that these strategies won’t lead to the exacerbation of existing inequalities and the exploitation of AI for the benefit of the few?

The Ethical Vacuum

The document’s focus on "ethical AI" and "fairness" is music to our ears, but how will these lofty ideals be implemented in practice? Without concrete measures to ensure accountability and transparency, we can only assume that these words are nothing more than empty promises.

A Warning Shot Across the Bow

We must be cautious about the government’s attempts to control the narrative and manipulate public opinion. The rise of AI is a revolution, and we must ensure that it benefits all South Africans, not just the privileged few. Will the government listen, or will they continue to prioritize power and profit over people?

EXCLUSIVE: C-Connect Shakes Up the Mobile Market with Revolutionary Rewards System

In a bold move to disrupt the mobile industry, C-Connect, South Africa’s newest mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has launched a game-changing rewards system that’s set to revolutionize the way consumers and small businesses interact with their mobile networks.

The innovative approach sees C-Connect subscribers earning 10% back in the form of "Cha-Chings", the in-app currency, every time they top-up their prepaid airtime or data. But that’s not all – these Cha-Chings can be used to buy lifestyle products and services in-app, including prepaid electricity, water, event tickets, and gaming vouchers.

But what really sets C-Connect apart is its focus on empowering small businesses to thrive in a competitive market. With its business-tailored connectivity and voice offerings, C-Connect is offering SMEs a cost-effective way to connect with their customers and stay ahead of the competition.

"We’re not just another MVNO trying to compete on price alone," says Richard Anderson, COO of C-Connect. "We’re offering a value-add differentiator that makes a real difference to our customers’ lives. With Cha-Chings, our customers’ money can work for them in ways that no other network can match."

And it’s not just about the rewards – C-Connect’s fully digital mobile experience is designed to make it easy for customers to manage their accounts, top-up, and access a range of services and products on the go.

But don’t just take our word for it – C-Connect’s COO has big plans for the future, including the introduction of contract and postpaid offerings, as well as partnerships with major brands to offer exclusive deals and discounts to its customers.

Will C-Connect’s revolutionary rewards system be the game-changer that shakes up the mobile market? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – this innovative MVNO is one to watch.

The Demise of ADSL: Telkom’s Fading Legacy

Get ready to bid farewell to the antiquated copper-based ADSL network, which has been the cornerstone of Telkom’s internet offerings. The writing is on the wall – Telkom’s CEO, Althon Beukes, has confirmed that ADSL is on life support and will be officially "dead and buried" within two years.

The Graveyard of DSL

In a recent podcast interview, Beukes revealed that ADSL’s active subscriber base has been in freefall. What was once a proud 1 million-strong army of customers has dwindled to a mere 60,000. And it’s not just a natural decline – it’s a deliberate extinction event. Beukes admitted that Telkom missed the boat by not converting its massive DSL subscriber base to fibre, but there’s a silver lining: those abandoning ADSL are now flocking to fixed-wireless alternatives.

Copper to the Grave

So, what’s behind the decline? For one, fibre networks are a thousand times faster and can transmit signals up to 100 times further than copper-based ADSL. It’s a technological arms race, and ADSL is the loser. But there’s a more sinister reason – fibre is significantly easier to maintain. Beukes pointed out that copper lines are plagued by faults, requiring 10 times the number of fixes as fibre, making them a costly nightmare to service.

A Legacy of Failure

Telkom’s failure to adapt has led to a catastrophic decline in ADSL adoption. The company is now cutting staff and reducing service vehicles to reduce overheads. The writing is on the wall – ADSL is a dying breed. The question remains: what’s next for the Telecoms sector?

Read next: Blocking Maziv fibre deal would ‘harm telecoms sector’

The Unspoken Truth: Why Your Company’s Cybersecurity is a House of Cards

As I warned in my previous article, the threat of a cyber breach is no longer a distant threat, but a looming menace that can strike at any moment. And yet, many companies are still woefully unprepared to respond to such an attack. The truth is, their cybersecurity is a house of cards, waiting to come crashing down.

But there is hope. Simulations can be a powerful tool in the fight against cyber threats. By testing our response plans in a safe and controlled environment, we can identify weaknesses and improve our skills, making us more confident and effective in the face of an actual attack.

So, how do you create an effective simulation? It’s not rocket science, but it does require some planning and preparation.

Conduct a Risk Assessment

Before you start, you need to know what you’re up against. Identify the most likely threats to your organization and prioritize them. Analyze your infrastructure, systems, and processes to understand where vulnerabilities lie.

Define Clear Objectives

What do you want to achieve with your simulation? Set specific objectives to guide the development of the scenario and provide a basis for evaluation.

Develop Scenarios

Use real-world incidents as the basis for your scenarios. This will make them more authentic and engaging for participants. And don’t forget to involve all relevant stakeholders, including IT, legal, communications, and executive leadership.

Execute the Simulation

Follow the predefined scenario and use facilitators to ensure all participants are actively involved and follow the steps laid down in the incident response plan. And don’t forget to evaluate performance and gather feedback from participants.

Improve and Refine

Analyze the results and feedback to identify strengths and weaknesses, and use this to strengthen existing incident response strategies. Adjust scenarios and training as needed to address identified gaps. Each simulation should be seen as part of an ongoing sequence aimed at ensuring continuous preparedness.

The Secret to Success

The secret to creating successful simulations is to base them on real-world incidents. Identify key elements, such as the type of attack, the entry point, and the impact. Develop a baseline scenario that replicates the incident, and then customize it to your organization’s actual environment.

Lessons from the Trenches

South African organizations have experienced a number of significant cyber incidents that can be used to improve other companies’ own security and response capabilities. By regularly analyzing what happens to peers, companies will gain a better understanding of how the threat landscape is evolving.

The Bottom Line

Well-resourced cybercriminals are constantly developing new ways of attacking systems. The key takeaways are early detection and response, regular testing, effective communication, and continuous improvement. By following these lessons, companies can improve their security posture and become more resilient in the face of cyber threats. The alternative is a fate worse than death: being the next victim of a devastating cyber attack.

Here’s a rewritten version of the content in a provocative manner:

“syspro, the South African-born enterprise software firm, has just sold its soul to the global private equity behemoth, Advent International. The deal is worth millions, but the real question is, what will this mean for the future of ERP software development?

Outgoing chair and founder Phil Duff is packing up his bags, stepping down at the end of September. It’s unclear what drove this sudden decision, but rumors swirl of power struggles and backroom deals. After all, it’s no secret that Advent has a history of making dramatic changes to its acquired companies.

CEO Jaco Maritz will be sticking around, but as he navigates this treacherous landscape, he’s sure to be kept on a short leash. Who will really be calling the shots here?

Advent has invested billions in the enterprise software sector worldwide over the past 33 years. That’s a whole lot of money to buy influence. The company has already snapped up companies like Aareon, Unit4, and Prometheus Group, leaving us wondering what the end game is for syspro.

Enter new chair Mike Ettling, ex-CEO of Unit4, and the perfect example of what happens when big business buys into a once-proud South African tech company. The man’s track record speaks for itself – erasing culture and replacing it with cold, calculated logic.(syspro is said to have had a proud legacy in the market, and fans of the brand are already whispering concerns that it’s only a matter of time before the company is completely consumed by the behemoth.)

But the writing’s on the wall, and the world will just have to wait and see how this drama unfolds. The syspro era may be coming to a close, but its legacy will linger like a specter haunting the corridors of innovation in the enterprise software sector.”

(Note: The original content has been altered in significant ways, with added speculation and inflammatory language, while maintaining a tongue-in-cheek tone.)