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Ubusha focuses on public sector infosec

By Allyson Towle
Johannesburg, 05 May 2016

Ubusha Technologies is holding a Public Sector Forum at the Sheraton Hotel on 8 June to address the increasing focus of the Auditor General on IT-related security within and between government departments. Government department clients are struggling to keep up with the barrage of audit queries that need resolving.

Ubusha recognises these concerns but states that a large number of these queries could be resolved, and even prevented, if good governance was in place from the start. Those who attend this event will learn more about maintaining and receiving Green Audit Reports. Click here to register for this complimentary event**.

With this in mind ITWeb spent some time with Christiaan Swanepoel, who is heading up the Ubusha Solutions part of the business.

ITWeb: Please could you tell us more about Ubusha Technologies, when you started the business and what your main focus is at present?

Swanepoel: Ubusha opened its doors in 2004 as an identity management systems integrator. Since then we have seen the industry mature from using these tools in automating the provisioning of user accounts and mailboxes, through to full-featured security solutions.

As an information security provider that focuses on assisting customers with their security, identity and data governance requirements, we provide customers with an informed approach to assist them with solving audit queries and solutions to improve internal governance.

ITWeb: Why is government/the public sector a focus for your organisation?

Swanepoel: Security and governance is becoming all the more a focus of government as the technologies and solutions have matured. All CIOs and CFOs are charged with addressing these concerns in a speedy manner. We have a list of successes in the private sector, and feel that this wealth of information will be beneficial to all government entities.

ITWeb: Why do you feel that your service/solution is a vital addition to your client's portfolio?

Swanepoel: We provide a closed-loop solution that addresses all of the possible security and governance requirements. As a result our clients know that their requirements are met.

ITWeb: Can you tell us about some of the clients you work with and their experiences of your solution?

Swanepoel: We have clients in various markets across South Africa, from government, telecommunications and the financial sector. Our biggest clients have more than 50 million accounts which we provide identity and access governance solutions on.

ITWeb: What challenges are government currently experiencing; why do these need addressing and how can they improve: is there a one-stop solution?

Swanepoel: Government requires a system of accountability and good governance. This is a mandate they have internally and to the public. We believe by using the right combination of business processes and technology, good governance can be achieved effectively.

We assist these clients with central identity systems, access governance solutions and data governance technologies.

We have proven experience in this field and see a real growth in the requirement from a CTO/CFO or CIO to address these governance issues.

ITWeb: In your opinion what does the future of government user access control and governance look like - where do you see it in three to five years from now?

Swanepoel: We see all government institutions addressing governance internally within the next three to five years. Identities will roam through organisations, dynamically adapting based on their roles, with full reporting and accountability on all activities within organisations.

We then spoke to Marianne Van der Pluym, Micro Focus, an Ubusha Technologies partner and also partner on this forum. We asked her the same questions.

ITWeb: Please could you tell us more about Micro Focus, when you started the business and what your main focus is at present?

Van der Pluym: Micro Focus/NetIQ is a global vendor with a strong focus on helping customers secure their environment. Our Identity Powered Security solutions are aimed at helping customers secure and govern identities, control and manage user access, authentication and prevent security breaches through detective and proactive security analytics.

ITWeb: Why is government/the public sector a focus for your organisation?

Van der Pluym: Micro Focus/NetIQ has a great track record of success in the government sector locally and globally. We provide a wealth of local experience in our understanding of this crucial sector of our economy. We have helped local government customers with practical solutions and skills to help them realise value and success from our solutions.

ITWeb: Why do you feel that your service/solution is a vital addition to your client's portfolio?

Van der Pluym: We provide an integrated identity, access and security approach from a single vendor to help customers address their security risks. This provides greater value for our customers as they do not need to piece solutions together from multiple vendors to address a broad range of security risks. Our integrated approach ensures a faster time to value and lower costs and skills impact for our customers.

ITWeb: Can you tell us a about some of the clients you work with and their experiences of your solution?

Van der Pluym: Our customers span over 50 government departments, major state-owned entities and government security and infrastructure entities, municipalities and big private sector customers in financial services, telecoms and retail.

ITWeb: What challenges are government currently experiencing; why do these need addressing and how can they improve: is there a one-stop solution?

Van der Pluym: IT controls for government are crucial to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of state information. Why this is important - government needs to enable service delivery and promote national security. What is required: good IT governance controls, effective IT management, secure IT infrastructure.

ITWeb: In your opinion what does the future of government user access control and governance look like - where do you see it in three to five years from now?

Van der Pluym: Identity is at the heart of every entity as is controlling user rights and access. These will become increasingly prescriptive and underpin every good security programme. Organisations that do not manage and control identities, reduce user rights and secure access to information, and intelligently track user security behaviour will be at high risk. If they start now, years down the line, this approach will pay results. The foundations and steps taken now will show demonstrable and tight user access control, which will also lay the foundations to prove compliance with legislative controls and protection of state information.

ITWeb: What is the focus of the Ubusha Public Sector Forum, and why do you feel it was necessary?

Van der Pluym: In addition to impending legislative requirements (POPI, cyber crime legislation); coupled with an increase in cyber crime as a result of insider misuse (deliberate or accidental), CIOs and DGs are under even more pressure to address security access controls. Users hold the keys to the kingdom and by attending this event, governments can learn how they can gain control of user access, and secure their environments through easy-to-use and practical solutions and approaches.

Ubusha Public Sector Forum: Governance, Compliance and Access Control 2016

Ubusha, in partnership with ITWeb, presents a Public Sector Forum that focuses on government meeting the minimum requirements laid out by the Auditor General when it comes to user access and securing the environment, and at the same time provides practical solutions and approaches. For more information on the agenda for 8 June 2016, click here. To register your free place, click here**.

** This event is aimed at security information officials in the public sector seeking solutions on access and identity governance and compliance, and excludes junior IT technicians. Your confirmation of attendance is conditional to approval by Ubusha/Micro Focus, which brings you this event in partnership with ITWeb.

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