Staff can compromise firms’ cyber security

TECHNOLOGICALLY savvy employees are a good thing, unless they bring their own tablets, smartphones and laptops to work, and introduce viruses to work servers.

This compromises their employers’ cyber security, opening the door for cyber terrorism and cyber espionage, IT experts say.

Cyber security was on the agenda this week when State Security Minister David Mahlobo spoke at a four-day State Security Cybersecurity Conference in Pretoria. Mahlobo said the department had expanded the traditional notions of security to address the non-traditional security threats that arise from the internet.

International terrorism always came up in discussions on security.

“Cyberspace has revolutionised the world and brought limitless opportunities, but it also poses some of the most complex challenges the world has ever faced. We have seen manifestations of such things as cyber terrorism and cyber espionage.”

Danny Myburgh, a cyber forensics expert and managing director of Cyanre, a computer forensics lab, said cyber threats were brought into companies intentionally or unintentionally by employees.

Workers who used their own devices at wifi hotspots, and connected company laptops could create huge security problems.

Mahlobo said South Africa was strengthening its cyber security cooperation with its SADC, AU and Brics partners. – Weekend Argus Reporter