Johannesburg, 29 Mar 2021
Universities are required to continually deliver student-facing technologies and digital learning platforms with secure open access and academic freedom. Yet at the same time, the requirement for data privacy and protection is essential. Failure to protect the data and ensure visibility, prevention and mitigation of breaches could cost universities both reputational and financial losses. This delicate balancing act, although achievable, takes investment, time, effort and expertise. With digital transformation top of mind, the continual increase in remote working and the commencement of the POPI Act, the need for a national sector-wide cyber security operation centre has become critical.
HEITSA has recognised this need and established a framework with cyber security expert, KHIPU Networks, that will offer institutions cost-effective services that will enable the sector to rapidly identify and mitigate against cyber threats. The approach is to help bring the community together, as the overall common goal is to continually improve the sector’s cyber security posture, enhance security operations and efficiencies.
Together HEITSA and KHIPU Networks have calibrated to form a framework that not only addresses these challenges but allows easy access to the leading cyber security technologies, services and tools for all universities. Sector-wide discounts are shared throughout the community, allowing institutions of all sizes to have equal access to the available services, including:
- Managed detection and response (MDR) services;
- Managed vulnerability assessment services;
- Managed simulated phishing and awareness training; and
- Managed firewall services.
“During the last 12 months the increased activities of cyber criminals have been felt and reported on within higher education globally. Therefore, the time was right for us to include and incorporate a sector-wide cyber security solution to our offering. As one of HEITSA’s core focuses is to promote standardisation and best practice throughout the sector, a single nationwide security operations centre (SOC) aligned best with our primary principles,” explains Val Theron of HEITSA.
“Providing standardisation across the sector enables our SOC teams to gain invaluable insights drawn from threat intelligence from each of the institutions using the services. This gives us the capabilities to rapidly mitigate threats sector-wide. This approach would help bring the community together, as the overall common goal is to continually improve the sector’s cyber security posture, enhance security operations and efficiencies,” adds Gareth Trollip, SA Country Manager at KHIPU Networks.
“The ultimate goal of the framework is to ensure we assist all higher education institutions to strengthen their ability to prevent and mitigate cyber security breaches and reduce risk; we know that disruption to service is just too costly both to the students and institutions,” concludes Trollip.
For further information, please contact us:
KHIPU South Africa
Greenacres Office Park
2 Avenue
Newton Park
Port Elizabeth
6001
Contact: 0413937600
E-mail: sales-africa@khipu-networks.com
Web: www.khipu-networks.com
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