WEEKLY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMY NEWSPAPER
Employees that provide services to Turkey’s information and communication infrastructure faced with the most difficult test experienced so far after the coup attempt carried out on July 15, 2016. Secret heroes managed to keep up the infrastructure shaping Turkey’s digital nerves and networks based on cloud computing such as e-government and finance applications and handled the process successfully preventing the incident cause worse scenarios. As it is the same for many countries in the world that the services such as communications, finance, e-government, education, transportation and trade that shape everyday lives take support from IT infrastructure to provide faster and more efficient service. For continuity of daily life and healthy communication in Turkey in times of chaos; continuity of services based on information and communication technologies are vital. Tough Day for Telecom Operators All institutions, especially telecom operators in Turkey passed a major test at this point. Institutions, despite the direct interference in centers where critical processes take place, they were able to provide continuity of service thanks to the brave attitude and determination of the staff. In the process, Turkcell announced to give minutes, SMS and internet for citizens to have uninterrupted communication in case of an emergency need. Also, in order everyone to reach the news and official statements from mobile devices, Turkcell TV + application was offered to the users. Vodafone Turkey provided
Turkish information and communication infrastructure has successfully passed the most difficult test The night of July 15, 2016 for the prevention of the most difficult events in Turkey; the most critical tasks were taken on by information and communication networks. Undertaking very important responsibilities for ensuring communication and information flow and functioning of daily life, Turkey’s secret heroes have risen to the challenge very successfully during the chaos experienced. free minutes and internet to all subscribers to support their urgent communication needs. Holding Turkey’s main communications backbone Turk Telekom continued to provide uninterrupted service despite the interventions made to their centers and providing its customers free Wi-Fi, home phone and mobile communication packages and ensured the continuity of communication. IT NGOs condemned the attempt NGOs in IT field condemned the attempted coup on July 15 with a press statement: “As IT NGOs, we strongly condemn the irrational and treacherous attempt experienced on July 15, 2016 Friday night. We report that we are against all kinds of anti-democratic initiatives, violence and oppression. In this manner, we reiterate our unshakable faith in democracy and national will, and we announce with respect that under all circumstances we will continue defend democracy, freedom, peace and life.”
NGOs condemning the attempted coup BGD – Association of Information Security BİYESAM – Association of Information and Software Work Owners BMD – Association of Information Reporters ÇMD – Association of Call Centers ECİD – Association of Electronic Device Producers EDER – Association of E-Commerce Infrastructure Providers EHD - Association of E-Commerce and Internet Law INETD – Association of Internet Technologies IPTV – Association of Internet Based TV Technologies Association of Internet / ISOC - TR İTO – Telecommunication Professional Committee President MOBİSAD – Association of Mobile Communication
Devices and Information Technologies Businessmen MOBİLSİAD – Association of Mobile Service Provider Businessmen OYUNDER – Association of Game Designers, Developers, Producers and Publishers ASSCOCIATION OF HEALTH INFORMATICS SİNERJİTÜRK Foundation of Effective Business and Coalition TBD –Turkey Informatics Association TBP – Technology Acknowledgement Platform TBV –Turkey Informatics Foundation TECHNOLOGICAL GRUOP TEDER- Association of Telecommunication Internet and Information Technologies TELKODER – Association of Independent
Telecommunication Managers TESİD – Association of Turkish Electronic Industrial Businessmen TİD – Association of All Internets TOBB Turkey Software Assembly TOSYÖV – Turkey Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Independent Professionals and Managers Foundation TÜBİDER – Association of Informatics Industry TÜBİFED – Federation of Informatics Associations TÜBİSAD – Association of Informatics Industrial Businessmen TÜTED – Association of All Telecommunication Businesspeople TZV – Turkey Intelligence Foundation YASAD - Association of Software Industrial Businessmen
Time to give security the attention it deserves When it comes to technology, we like to get the latest product, we say ‘expensive is good’ but we go and get the cheapest security service. “This approach needs to change particularly in security.” says Intel Security Turkey - Azerbaijan Regional Director İlkem Özar. It used to be enough to locate the best product or solution in certain fields and titles. But today, these structures should create
an integrated structure or they cannot be effective. Hence, as the product’s functionality, its integration capability, competence and efficiency have great importance. İlkem Özar gives an example of a football team. The team wins not because of its best player but thanks to the 11 players that worked together in harmony. Security is also a similar concept. If the door outside and the door inside do not talk
to each other, that means there is a big problem. The prevalence of this problem also brings diversity in the types of attacks. However, with an integrated system; the alarm switches on in case of an anomaly and all endpoints get informed. Thus, in the words of Özar, an integrated, real-time security structure is being established which continuously learning with many different data sources.
It is important that security firms are willing to move together. Özar adds: “This means an investment cost, though losses may be much higher in case of a potential risk. It is very important to get consultancy support and design a construction in the light of corporate structure and priorities. There is not enough awareness on this issue. Not only IT security, all corporate security must be ensured through a
design. It is necessary to position different solutions in each endpoint as well as determining who is responsible for these solutions. I mean a responsibilities structure which includes human resources unit should be able to put forward. This allows efficient integration. The central perspective that integrates security should be able to develop in this way.”
Cyber threat has still a very low level of awareness
According to a survey carried out by RSA in 81 countries, 75% of respondents were severely exposed to cyber security risks and many institutions have taken an investment decision only after the exposure. RSA; Security Division of EMC has published data showing that institutions investing in detection and reaction technologies rather than the solutions based on the environment have better defense against cyber threats. Held once a year, in 81 countries, bringing together 878 participants from more than 24 industries; second RSA Cyber Security Deficiency Index doubled the number of participants compared to the previous year. The report of the survey carried out for two consecutive years, 75% of this year’s participants were severely exposed to cyber security risks. The skills in especially Incident Response – IR are very insufficient. Almost half of the enterprises stated that their IR basic skills are “temporary” or “not available”. However, in-
stitutions once faced the security threats seem to pay attention to programs designed to boost cyber security capabilities. The survey also shows that most organizations have difficulty in efforts to improve cyber security because they do not understand how they might be affected by the risk of cyber activities. Stating that the institutions from all sizes, all sectors and all regions feel unprepared for threats, EMC Safety Unit RSA President Amit Yoran says that: “We have to change our way of thinking about security, we need to focus more than just to block it and we need to develop a strategy that emphasizes the detection and response. The institutions should have new agendas, create comprehensive strategies and take action before a violation occurs.”
TSE will give authority to IT consultants and companies TSE Information Technology Testing and Certification Department Director Mariye Umay Akkaya gave information about ‘IT Companies Accreditation and Certification System’ to BThaber. In the scope of ‘Certification System Establishment of IT Companies’ entering the e-government tenders with Science and Technology High Council’s decision No. 2013/103; The Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology is considered ‘director’ and TSE is ‘responsible’ organizations. As a result of studies conducted since 2013 in this context, on February 17, 2016, 29th BTYK meeting was concluded and decision mentioned as BTYK No. 2013/103 has reached a verdict. Mariye Umay Akkaya shared developments on the subject: “In addition, the R&D reform package prepared by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology is published in the Official Gazette No. 29636, dated February 26, 2016. R&D Reform Package included the Article 30, KHK 635, Article 2 Section G; making the necessary efforts to improve IT sector and its competitiveness, authorizing the companies supplying for the public IT projects for competences and/or standards, cancelling or temporarily stopping authorization when necessary, determining the principles and procedures to be followed in public informatics projects in the public institutions for quality,
competency and safety.” KAYSİS be tested by TSE Akkaya explained the ‘IT Companies Accreditation and Certification System’ outlines: “Information knowledge assets of public institutions and organizations are classified according their degree of confidentiality. Prime Ministry uses KAYSİS in this stage. ‘Information Asset Classification Privacy Degrees Criteria’ draft was prepared by the TSE. KAYSİS began to be revised by the Prime Ministry; it will be tested by the TSE after revision. In ‘IT Companies Authorization’, minimum quality and safety criteria for public IT projects will be determined by TSE and BSTB
will publish a regulation about it. Authorization in electronic environment will be carried out on a web portal to be prepared by BSTB. In this context, quality and safety criteria were prepared by TSE. These criteria will be published by BSTB as ‘Public Information Tender Attendee Informatics Companies Authorization and Type General Technical Specifications / Administrative Contract Regulation’; companies and public institutions will be given a transition period for the new system. General Communiqué of KİK revision should also be made at the same time.”
Entertainment and future of media re-shaped Entertainment and media companies are trying to achieve growth and value in this increasingly complex and competitive global market; while the growing demand of young consumers also presents new opportunity areas for players who are new entrants to the market as well as existing companies. According to the Global Entertainment and Media Industry at a Glance 2016
-2020 Report published by PwC, the total revenue of the worldwide entertainment and media industry will increase with an annual combined growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% in the next five years and reach $2.14 trillion in 2020. This growth rate shows that the industry will have a decline in revenue compared to last year’s 5.5% growth rate and will be behind the overall global economic
growth in the next five years. However, when examined more closely; a different picture emerges. Entertainment and media sector has a stable and sustainable growth and a highly dynamic sector. Strong overall growth is not shared equally by all participants, though; there are impressive growth and opportunities in many areas of industry. Significant decline and
stagnation in some areas take place simultaneously with the dramatic expansion in “active” countries, regions, and sectors and this is creating a global media environment that offers multiple variations. According to the PwC report, in 36 of 54 countries, the entertainment and media spending is growing more quickly than GDP and at a rate of more than 50%.
Venezuela is at the top of the list. In this country, the growth in entertainment and media spending is expected to exceed the GDP growth rate of 2016 by more than 14%. Where there is a dense population in countries such as Brazil, Pakistan and Nigeria; entertainment and media markets are expected to record relatively high growth rates in entertainment and media, as well.