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CYBER SECURITY | TECHNOLOGY
The cyber security challenge Emmanuel Yartey explores how companies operating in the modern world must protect against cyber attacks, or suffer the financial consequences.
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Cyber security is essential for companies operating in the modern world.
ndoubtedly, in this current globalised world, the accelerated growth of manufacturing organisations that leads to increased profit margins is pivoted on technology. But it is the same technology that is used by malicious actors to influence the system for nefarious purposes. However, Ghana’s Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited is able to detect cyber security attacks early enough because of robust measures put in place by management. Tobinco Pharmaceuticals is one of the leading pharmaceutical manufacturing, marketing and distribution companies in Ghana. The company focuses, in particular, on marketing, manufacturing and distribution of antimalarials and has increased its range to cover overthe-counter drugs and antibiotics
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among others. Over the years, Tobinco Pharmaceuticals has been able to make waves against the odds with regard to preventing cyber security attacks by making it their priority focus. Its endpoint protection, firewalls, and corporate security policy are all managed by experts who are on top of their responsibilities.
Cyber defence Endpoint protection is the practice whereby a company secures
endpoints or entry points of enduser devices such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices from being exploited by malicious actors. Currently, endpoint protection systems are designed to quickly detect, analyse, block, and contain attacks in progress. For example, a firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and permits or blocks data packets based on a set of security rules. Its purpose is to establish a barrier between the
It is important that cyber security attacks can be reduced to the barest minimum.” TOBINCO PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED SPOKESPERSON
company’s internal network and incoming traffic from external sources such as the internet in order to block malicious traffic such as viruses and hackers. Corporate security policy is an information security policy statement designed to guide employees’ behaviour regarding the security of the company’s data, assets, and IT systems. What a security policy seeks to achieve is meaningful direction and value to the individuals within an organisation to establish a security mindset. A spokesperson at Tobinco Pharmaceuticals told African Review, “Here at Tobinco, we are able to detect cyber attacks early because we consider security as fundamental, especially as manufacturers. We are digitally
MARCH 2022 | AFRICAN REVIEW OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY
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