Computing SA staff

S assessments conducted by Dimension Data during 2005 have revealed that corporate South Africa is not faring well in terms of administering and managing the people element of information security. Companies surveyed achieved an overall maturity score of 43 per cent, with some sectors, such as manufacturing, scoring as low as 3 per cent.

The South African IT security market has continued to be an area of solid growth from 2003 to 2004, according to ICT market research analyst BMI-TechKnowledge (BMI-T). This follows the publication of the latest research report entitled

Financial services providers (FSPs) in EMEA are expected to spend $46.2 billion on IT services in 2005. However, less than 30 percent of FSPs will outsource any strategic projects by the end of 2006, according to Gartner.

McAfee has announced the results and availability of the McAfee Virtual Criminology Report, which examines how a new class of criminals are using the Internet in systematic and professional ways to commit illegal acts. According to the findings, information theft is the most damaging category of Internet crime, while viruses have been the most costly for businesses.

The growing presence of bank-independent cash machines in the South African market has been boosted this year by the adoption of GPRS wireless technology that enables rapid installation of new cash machines, even in the most remote areas.

South Africa will achieve nearly 870,000 broadband subscribers by 2009, according to a new report by BMI-TechKnowledge Group.

The market for page copier, printer and flatbed multifunction products (MFPs) in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) will grow by seven percent in 2005, with shipments totalling 11.6 million units, according to latest forecasts from Gartner.

Bearing gifts to the value of R4.5 million (US$59,000), Microsoft swept into Durban this month, announcing that it is re-investing in the province, not just with the opening of a branch office, but with the establishment of Africa