Virtual Event: Harnessing the Potential of Cyber Security Services in the African Telecom Sector

Date: Thursday, 27 May 2021 | Timing: 16:00 – 17:30 (Kenya Time), 15:00 – 16:30 (South Africa Time) Location: Virtual, Zoom

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EVENT OVERVIEW

Cybercrimes have cost Africa an estimated USD 3.5 billion with threats increasing rapidly. An estimated 96% of cyber-security incidents either go unreported or unresolved, and telecos and MNOs across Africa have been some of the biggest victims of cybercriminal activity in the last 5 years, with numbers increasing during the pandemic.

As lines between workplaces and homes blur in the ongoing pandemic, the reliance on mobile networks has increased with employees working from home, and connecting to their business networks remotely. As a result, this has increased potential threat vectors with cyber-attacks evolving to become highly sophisticated, dynamic and targeted. In October 2020, Uganda’s telecoms and banking sectors were plunged into crisis due to a major hack that compromised the country’s mobile money network. At least USD 3.2 million is estimated to have been stolen in that incident, in which hackers used around 2,000 mobile SIM cards to gain access to the mobile money payment system.

The increasing variety and volume of attacks are making existing network defense mechanisms unreliable. Cybersecurity has become a major pain point for telecos and the importance of having robust network security and data protection is even more urgent than ever before.

Join us for a virtual session with SHELT, where experts will delve into the cyber security landscape in the African telecommunication sector to discuss:


  • A Web Protection service that can help telecos protect their consumers

  • Secure Telco customers (mobile subs, LTE, SMEs etc..) from malicious websites access

  • Increase their revenue

  • Provide a value add, point of differentiation and an entire new revenue stream for the Teleco



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ABOUT SHELT

SHELT is a technologically advanced European based Managed Security Service provider (MSSP) www.shelt.com, offering a versatile range of cybersecurity services to leading institutions in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

With a strong team leading the practice and an extensive network of partners, SHELT is well positioned in Europe and the Middle East and has a strong reach and presence in Africa.

SHELT offers:

  • Managed Security Services

  • 24x7 active Security Operations Center (SOC), to monitor the critical internal company assets and the external targeted threats

  • Brand and VIP Identity Protection

  • Managed Detection & Response (MDR)

  • SIEM-as-a-Service and many other cybersecurity technology stacks

  • Cybersecurity Attack Simulator for training and capacity building purposes

  • Cybersecurity Platform-as-a-Service (SPaaS): a white-label, multi-tenant, cloud based, CAPEX-free platform integrating email, web, end point and firewall offerings of leading vendors (e.g. Cisco, Palo Alto, Trend Micro, Fortinet…etc.)

  • Cybersecurity Advisory and Technical Services, Threat Intelligence and Advanced Analytics



Last but not least, SHELT has been recognized by Enterprise Security magazine among the Top 10 Managed Security Services Providers for 2020.

SPEAKERS

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Bassam
Business Development Manager - SHELT

Bassam is an experienced executive in the domain of Cyber Security with strong focus on emerging markets.  He is currently the Business Development Manager of SHELT, responsible for developing the business across the Telecom and Financial sectors across Africa.

He has previously led the Business Development team of Telecel Group in Africa, bringing in the latest technology trends to enterprise customers and telecom partners.

Bassam has as well worked for many leading institutions in the Middle East, as a Technical Engineer and a Project Manager of large scale ICT and Cyber Security projects,    Bassam holds a Master’s Degree in Computer & Communication Engineering from Universite Saint Joseph (ESIB).




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Dr. Col Akash Ghosh
Chief Technology Officer – Passive Infrastructure, Globacom

An astute professional with over 30 years’ experience in Active & Passive Telecom and power, Projects, Operations, Customer centric operations. Budgeted approach and revenue management.

Change agent and problem solver with a passion for technology, skilled in grasping the big picture, conceptualising, developing and implementing Solutions and partnering closely with business leaders.

Expertise in Portfolio Management of multiple high value & complex projects delivery. Cultivating Project culture with financial & risk management awareness amongst the delivery teams.

Specialties: Excellence in each operation at customer interface, planning, delivery, support, supplier interface and people related processes. Lead to create and sustain amiable work environment that fosters excellent team performance yielding high output and growth. Turnaround the businesses with sustainable efforts and team building. Helping humanity and causes for uplifting the life of everyone around adding value to each in my ecosystem.

- Indian Army various positions 1984 to Nov 2007
- Nov 2007 to April 2009 Tulip IT services as service assurance, presales and customer facing
- APRIL 2009 TO 2011 May Ericsson’s customer pm and managed services 2 and 3G
- 2011 may till date Globacom CTO function



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Sam Keiru
Channel & Technical Lead - Middle East & Africa, FirstWave Cloud Technology

Sam Keiru is currently the Channel and Technical Lead for Firstwave Cloud Technology Services responsible for the Middle East & Africa.  He has extensive experience (14+ years) coupled with extensive involvement in the design, deployment and securing of Enterprise Infrastructure as both a solution architect and a consultant responsible for validating the efficacy of security solutions deployed to protect these infrastructures.

Prior to this role, Sam worked as both the Regional Security Business Lead (East & West Africa + Indian Ocean Islands) as both the Security Business Lead and a Technical Solutions Architect.  In his current position at FirstWave, he manages the sales and business development initiatives around bringing SP Focused Managed Service Provider type products to market, fostering green field opportunities in the Security SaaS space as well as coordinating the roll out of Firstwave’s new Clean Pipe offerings.

Sam is a passionate evangelist of Firstwave’s unique value proposition and its ability to deliver on the promise of the “mass-ification” of traditional enterprise security offerings, allowing Service providers to gain additional value from their traditional customer bases where Connectivity has been the primary revenue stream.



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Spencer Manguwa,
Chief – Innovation and Product Development, NetOne Cellular Private Limited

I am a passionate and strategic leader with 15 years of experience in Telecoms and Financial services, which were served at some of the leading blue chip, multi-national companies in Africa namely Econet Wireless and Standard Bank. I have held several key positions in Product Marketing & Brand Development, Sales & Business creation, Customer Experience, Mobile Financial Services and Research (working with international partners such as Barkers Ogilvy and Research Bureau International).

I am highly innovative and I was at the forefront of some of the major innovations of the Telecommunications era such as Mobile broadband(data) and Financial Services (Ecocash and One Money). I have demonstrated a record of successful launches of Products and Services, plus business value addition working closely with partners.

I am currently responsible for driving NetOne business expansion on Marketing and Product Development. I actively manage the P&L for new business through crafting marketing and business growth strategies, fostering relationships with strategic partners such as financial institutions, Application providers for Cloud Based services and regulatory authorities.

Prior to joining NetOne, I was Head of Financial Services for Econet Wireless Group. The role involved research, creation and deployment of customer relevant financial and digital products and services across 7 African countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria. I was the team leader during the launch of products such EcoCash and Ecosure. I designed, developed and implemented vertical growth strategies for the EcoCash platform making it the default payment channel for business and personal transactions in Zimbabwe. I also led the Marketing and Branding team in the launch of the biggest football sponsorship in Zimbabwe (The Buddie Premier League 2005). In my profession, I received the Top Brand of the year of the year in 2006 and 2007. This is an award that recognizes exceptional go to market strategy, innovative and creative execution of campaigns.

I have presented papers at fora such the AFRICACOM (Cape Town), CZI (Zimbabwe), CCAZ Business Process Outsourcing and Sport Marketing and Branding amongst others.

I hold an Honours degree in Applied Mathematics (NUST), A Masters in Business Administration (Nottingham). Diploma in Marketing (CIM, UK) and other certifications. I am a former Board Vice President of the Contact centre Association of I am a member of the Institute of Directors Southern Africa,

Event Schedule

Date: Thursday, 27 May 2021 | Timing: 16:00 – 17:30 (Kenya Time), 15:00 – 16:30 (South Africa Time)

Digitalisation and digital transformation has raised the bar in the way telecommunication services are consumed. The consumer-first approach to digital strategy has led telecos to invest in upgrading their critical infrastructure and integrate cloud services, 5G, and Internet of Things amongst other disruptive technologies. However, telecos are skating on thin ice if they are not investing in upgrading their cybersecurity services in this transformation journey. Aligning cybersecurity strategy to transformation strategy is crucial for telecos to retain and protect customers, and reap the return on their investments.

Threat detection organizations have found that the monthly volume of all threat activities increased significantly within the first two months of the pandemic. These include push-threats such as spam, impersonation, malwares and URL blockings. The pandemic has also created further opportunities for threat actors. Almost all the known types of cyber-attacks have been reinvigorated with the COVID-19 pandemic themes, including business email compromise, credential phishing, malware and spam email campaigns.

To improve resiliency, cross-stakeholder collaboration and coordination, as well as cooperation between public and private sector leaders is needed. In this keynote address, we delve deeper into solutions and services for telecom operators to protect customer data, and increase their revenue.

Keynote Speaker: Sam Keiru, Channel & Technical Lead - Middle East & Africa, FirstWave Cloud Technology

  • How are Telcos and MNOs building their strategy to maintain growth amidst a competitive market? Is average revenue per user (ARPU) rising or declining?

  • What are the responsibilities of Telcos towards their subscribers and customers?

  • How can Web protection help Telcos reduce churn, increase revenues and boost growth, and how it can be a value differentiator to end customers?

  • A Telco Cybersecurity offering to Enterprises: what are stakeholders various perspectives? Mapping successful case(s), and uncovering best practices from case studies, and the impact of the offering on key metrics


Moderator: Bassam Touma, Business Development Manager, SHELT

Panelists:

  • Dr. Col Akash Ghosh, Chief Technology Officer - Passive Infrastructure, Globacom

  • Spencer Manguwa, Chief – Innovation and Product Development, NetOne Cellular Private Limited

  • Sam Keiru, Channel & Technical Lead - Middle East & Africa, FirstWave Cloud Technology

    Attendee Benefits:

  • Learn from leading security experts, and explore the strategic issues that matter to you

  • Understand the dynamics of the cyber security landscape in Africa and how you can protect yourself and your organisation

  • 100% Virtual Event, allowing you to acquire knowledge at zero fees

    Who should Attend:

  • CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CSOs

  • CEOs, CMOs, CROs

  • Cyber Security Specialists, Heads of Innovation, Head of Product

  • Governance, Risk & Compliance Officers

  • Head of Enterprise, Head of Consumer Services, Business Development Directors (consumer/enterprise),

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