The Threat Within the Walls An insider threat is a security risk that originates from within the organization, often involving current or former employees, contractors, or business associates who have access to sensitive information. These threats can be malicious (e.g., selling data) or negligent (e.g., accidental email error). Key Mitigation Strategies **Data Loss Prevention (DLP):**…

The Strategic IT Management Decision For SMEs in Kenya, deciding how to manage IT infrastructure is a major financial and operational decision. It balances cost control against the need for specialized expertise and immediate response. Outsourcing (Managed Service Provider – MSP) **Pros:** Cost-effective (fixed monthly fee, no payroll/benefits), access to a broader range of specialized…

Improving Both Security and Productivity Single Sign-On (SSO) allows a user to log in once with one set of credentials to access all company-sanctioned applications and services (e.g., email, CRM, HR software). This uses identity management platforms like Okta, Azure AD, or specialized local services. SSO Benefits **Enhanced Security:** Forces users to use one, strong…

The Secure Gateway to Your Corporate Network A Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted, secure tunnel over the public internet, allowing remote employees (working from home or coffee shops) to access corporate resources (files, shared drives, internal software) safely, as if they were physically in the office. VPN Setup and Policy **Dedicated VPN Solution:**…

Identifying Bottlenecks Before They Cause Downtime Network performance monitoring (NPM) allows IT managers to track bandwidth usage, latency, device health, and application response times. This is vital in Kenya where bandwidth can fluctuate, and ISP issues are common. Essential Monitoring Metrics and Tools **Bandwidth Utilization:** Track how much data is being used and by whom….

Essential Protection Against Power Fluctuations In Kenya, an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is not a luxury; it is mandatory hardware to prevent data corruption and damage to sensitive equipment during power surges, brownouts, and brief outages. Choosing the correct capacity and type is crucial. UPS Types and Selection **Standby (Off-Line) UPS:** The most affordable, suitable…

Preventing Opportunity Theft and Visual Hacking A clean desk policy mandates that employees must clear their desks of all sensitive papers, removable media, and login details before leaving their workstation for any significant period. This is a simple, no-cost way to significantly boost both physical and digital security. Key Elements of the Policy **Lock Everything…

The Security Gatekeeper A firewall is the barrier between your trusted internal network and the untrusted external internet. It analyzes incoming and outgoing network traffic based on a defined set of rules to determine whether to allow or block specific data packets. Types and Functions **Packet-Filtering Firewall:** The simplest type, checking only the source and…

Knowing What You Own and Where It Is IT Asset Management (ITAM) is the practice of tracking and managing the lifecycle of IT assets, from purchase to disposal. Accurate inventory is the foundation for budgeting, maintenance, and, most critically, security. Key Components of ITAM **Hardware Inventory:** A detailed list of all devices (laptops, monitors, servers,…

Controlling Who Sees What User Access Management (UAM) ensures employees have exactly the permissions they need to do their job—no more, no less. Poor UAM, combined with weak passwords, is a leading cause of insider data breaches. Key UAM and Password Policies **Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP):** Grant users the minimum access rights necessary. For…