NamITech Limited, the Technology Solutions provider within the Nampak group of companies, has announced its plans to move aggressively into the managed enterprise security space.
"NamITech always had the intention to move into enterprise security," explains Charles Laxton, managing director, New and Emerging Business. "Following the demise of Netcom Solutions, we decided to fast-track our plans and take advantage of the qualified skills becoming available in the market. The move fits well with NamITech`s strategy to enhance its security offerings and to provide integrated security solutions to our clients.
"The current trend is towards outsourcing corporate e-security. An enterprise security services provider (ESSP) oversees the management and monitoring of an organisation`s e-security by an external company specialising in this field," says Laxton.
"The spend on ESSP is predicted to increase by some 8% in 2002. Managing e-security is a process, a holistic approach to the issue bringing in all elements of security including managed PKI, biometrics and intrusion detection. It made sense for NamITech to develop the expertise in-house to be able to provide this comprehensive security service."
Last year NamITech acquired SACA (South African Certification Authority) as an initial step in expanding its range of security solutions and professional and technical skills in this arena. SACA is a specialist in PKI and authentication technology and is the official Verisign Affiliate for Africa. VeriSign Inc is the world`s largest provider of Internet trust services.
Using SACA`s product suite together with the Intrusion Detection Services (IDS) experience recently acquired, NamITech intends to establish a division branded NamITrust. Under this umbrella will fall all the group`s security product and solutions, including biometrics, PKI, non-repudiation and IDS. Laxton`s New and Emerging business unit will drive the new ESSP division.
"This is a very exciting time for us," Laxton continues. "NamITrust is in an a excellent position to capitalise on the developing managed security market. Due to the technology and skills base that we already have on board, we are ahead of potential competitors. Following the acquisition of SACA, NamITech invested millions in the construction of an on-site seven tier trust centre - the only one of its kind in Africa - that exceeds even the stringent security requirements of VeriSign.
"The trust centre and the IDS monitoring unit is successfully up and running and fully capable of providing any security requirements as we speak," says Laxton. "We will continue to seek out opportunities in the ESSP arena."
Share
NamITech (Pty) Ltd is the secure technology provider within the established Nampak group of companies, focusing on a number of key market areas to provide leading-edge technology solutions.
NamITech recently acquired SACA, a local VeriSign affiliate, that is a specialist in the PKI and encryption technology arena. NamITrust, the security division of NamITech, has the only seven-tier secure trust centre in Africa and offers a comprehensive range of security products and solutions.
At the heart of the company is the provision of secure end-to-end business solutions and the development and implementation of value-added applications stemming from the intelligent use of smart cards and the latest technology. NamITech`s core areas of expertise are secure card technology, payment solutions and enterprise security solutions. Trust is embedded in all its business solutions and NamITech brings accountability to the converging world of electronic transacting and commerce.
Editorial contacts