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environments, wireless hotspots or at home.
Most end users really don’t care what security their networks offer as long as there is connectivity.
This is, however, not to say that they are not cautious but generally, most Zimbabweans have trusted and left that part to their IT technical personal, network administrators or their ISP.
Since we have resigned as ordinary users, and surrendered the controls to our “technical guys”, I really wonder how much equipped these guys are to run our security while we all take care of our own business.
With current Internet hacking hypes, WikiLeaks hacks, cyber criminals, script kiddies attack, websites being defaced, I really think its time as Zimbabweans we highly become proactive than wait to be hit only to be reactive.
I urge every organisation to take data and network security seriously and send their staff for security seminars.
In my research I have discovered that after attaining our university degrees or college diplomas, most IT companies are ready to hire personnel on the basis that they have the requisite qualifications, but to be honest most IT graduates really do not know much about security.
At university, we are taught principles and theories we rarely apply in real working environments and forgive me for saying this but most parts of our IT curriculums at tertiary level are irrelevant or ineffective.
Trainees at most companies are only exposed to a few concepts, especially those that are in the line with the business of the company that they are attached to and at times irrelevant to what they studied.
I watched fellow IT graduates struggle with basic practical computing concepts and I really wonder if our curriculum needs to be changed or its the certifying process which is questionable.
IT is a practical subject, I strongly contend that every IT scholar or administrator should be able to unequivocally maneouvre round every technical aspect whether he/she is a software, hardware or network personnel.
There is no excuse for failing to load an operating system or detect a hardware failure symptom as these are just basics that some guys in position of authority do not even know.
A network administrator should be able to detect an attack in its intromission before his or her network is down, port sniffing and denial of service is a simple attack which has brought down networks across the globe, but how much of our staff are acquainted with this?
There are more serious practical courses out there like Cisco certifications, Linux administration, and Microsoft certifications, A+ hardware which are really relevant to today’s network.
But what do you do when your network has been hacked and very important or sensitive information has been stolen? This is where everyone else comes in.
The legal departments, the loss control, the risk managers, the IT directors and the compliance departments all come together to form a reactionary team.
First Pro solutions is going to hold a seminar across the critical departments where it is going to enlighten our staff with the modern-day technology, security compliance and IT governance.
I really urge organisations to take such seminars seriously, as prevention is always been better than cure.
A secure network is much difficult to attack but modern attacks have become wittier hence the urgent need to catch up.
I really appreciate what First Pro soft Solutions is doing in calling out for all the technical guys, together with the IT managers, IT security, compliance manager,s legal officers, company secretariat, IT directors, company directors and CEOs for this month end’s grand seminar.
Besides security, they will cover issues of IT governance in the context of today’s business environment, understanding the different frameworks and components of an IT audit and IT governance, dealing with fraud in the organisation, how IT governance and enterprise governance inter-operate to reduce fraud. Critical issues in IT governance or IT audit and risk management
The seminar shall be presented among others by IT security guru Mr Maiendra Moodley who has majored in IT security forensic auditing and consulting services.
He has also worked at central banking level as the technical security advisor of the South African Reserve Bank. In his teachings and discussions internationally, he has worked for a wide range of industries and topics such as fraud, security and risk management to unlocking the strategic value of technology.
Mr Moodley has been extensively cited in both the online and print media, and his work has been published in peer reviewed journals to professional publication.
Discussion will also centre on exploring the importance of IT governance and the need for business to comply with these standards and guidelines.
The seminar will shed light about risks involved in IT governance and the role of IT service providers to a company’s strategy and business.
It is of uttermost importance for the attendees to acquire knowledge on how the advancements in IT systems such as portable mobile devices, adds another dimension to the risk.
These devices could be used to facilitate unlawful activities such as insider trading or man in the middle attack.
The workshop will afford delegates the opportunity to explore deeper on the operation of IT and its impact on governance with regard to the companies act.
Specially designed courses by industry active experts for industry practitioners will empower the attending delegates, it also includes comprehensive course notes and materials for future reference.
The organising facilitator, Mr Mike Muvimwa, said that upon completion of this course, they were going to offer a prestigious FPS Certificate of completion as recognition of accomplishment and knowledge attained. As IT professionals it will be an opportunity to meet and interact as the world seeks solutions to secure our global digital world.
The interactive course will run for three days from September 21-23 2011 from 8 am till 4:30pm at Rainbow Towers Hotel.

l The writer is a computer specialist and can be reached at [email protected]