Tag: cybersecurity

15 Most In-Demand Tech Skills In 2023

Technology is one of the fastest growing industries across the world because it affects practically every aspect of human existence. With this awareness, most nations and businesses are working to better prepare for this advancement. This is why companies all over the world are in need of professionals with advanced information technology skills to enable them to maximise technology for their business growth and expansion.

What Does This High Demand For Tech Skills Mean?

This means there is a high demand for career professionals skilled in tech, which has created ample opportunities for individuals interested in the tech space to stay relevant and employable. Just like economists say, when demand is high, prices go up. The same goes for the technology sector. It is one of the industries with the best paying employment opportunities, which makes it more enticing for individuals to venture into.

If you’ve been thinking of a convincing reason you should go into tech, the high remuneration is definitely a good reason, while the ability to largely work remotely is another.

Read also: The emergence of a tech hub: Nnewi Tech Faculty

Here are 15 tech skills in high demand in 2023 that you can learn to launch your tech career and start earning big bucks

Software Development

Software development is one of the most in-demand and well-paying careers in the technology industry. Developers design, test, and manage software applications, and they are frequently in high demand by businesses of all kinds.

Website Development

Another lucrative field in the technology industry is web development. Web developers build and maintain websites and web apps, and they frequently collaborate with designers, marketers, and other experts to produce user-friendly and visually beautiful websites.

Analytics and data science

As more businesses rely on data to make business decisions, the demand for data scientists and analysts is increasing. These experts employ statistical and computational tools to extract insights from data and assist firms in making data-driven decisions.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is one of the fastest-expanding sectors of technology, with several job prospects. As more businesses move their data and applications to the cloud, cloud computing technologies such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform are in great demand. Cloud computing professionals can work in a range of roles, including cloud architect, cloud administrator, and cloud security specialist, because they assist in storing, managing, and analyzing data in the cloud.

Read also: NITDA Urges Youth to Upgrade their Skills in Blockchain Technology

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a key issue for firms of all kinds, and experts in this field are in high demand. Security analyst, security engineer, and security consultant jobs are in high demand because they seek to secure organizations’ networks, systems, and data against illegal access and cyberattacks.

Network and Information Security

As the number of cyber threats grows, so does the demand for network and information security expertise. These people work to keep networks, systems, and data in organizations safe from unwanted access and cyberattacks.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are two of the most interesting and fast-growing areas of technology, and people who know a lot about them have a lot of job opportunities. These people work on making algorithms, models, and systems that can look at data and make predictions about it.

Technical Writing

Technical writers make things like user guides, online help systems, and other kinds of documentation for tech products and services. They are in charge of making difficult technical knowledge understandable to non-technical audiences.

Technical Support

Technical support employees help customers who are having trouble with technology products or services. They are in charge of finding and fixing bugs and other problems with technology so that consumers can get the most out of it.

Technical Sales

Customers are sold technology items or services by technical sales specialists. They are in charge of comprehending consumer requirements, recognizing opportunities, and closing sales.

Technical Project Management

Technical project managers are in charge of technology project planning, organization, and management. They work closely with teams of developers, designers, and other experts to finish projects on time and under budget.

Technical Training

Technical trainers are responsible for teaching people how to use technology products or services. They create and deliver training programs and frequently collaborate with clients, workers, and partners.

Technical Consulting

Technical consultants work with their clients to find out what kinds of technology they need and then give them expert advice on how to meet those needs. They frequently deal with a variety of clients and projects and are usually self-employed.

Technical Recruiting

Technical recruiters are in charge of locating and hiring top talent for technology firms. They work closely with the people in charge of hiring to figure out what the company needs and find the best candidates for the job.

Technical Marketing

Customers are marketed to by technical marketers that sell technology products or services. They work closely with product teams, sales teams, and other stakeholders to come up with and carry out marketing strategies.

5 African Technology Conferences to attend in 2023

Heads Up

It’s important that you know that some of these professions may require you to be knowledgeable in coding or programming languages, depending on the firm or organization you work for. If you are not interested in coding, you can look for opportunities that do not require coding skills.

You must understand, however, that the technology industry is ever-changing, and more tech jobs may require coding and programming knowledge in the future.

January 23, 2023
5 African Technology Conferences to attend in 2023
Here are 5 African technology conferences you can attend this 2023 to stay informed on important technology trends that cut across industries.

Technology has significantly transformed human coexistence in recent years, as well as business operations across the world.

The world is constantly evolving, with new ways of better integrating technology into daily activities and making human interactions more seamless. It can oftentimes be overwhelming to find how to incorporate and situate technological advancement to suit Africa’s and Africans’ needs.

This is why it is important for everyone, particularly tech professionals/enthusiasts and business owners, to keep abreast of the way technology is changing the African continent. This can be achieved by attending virtual or in-person conferences that keep them up-to-date on technological strategies that can improve their daily operations, especially if you are in Africa.

So, below is a list of 5 African Technology conferences you can attend this 2023.
- Nigeria Cybersecurity Summit 2023
- Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2023
- Blockchain Africa Conference
- I Code Java
- BIM Africa Summit (BAS) 2023
Read also: Nigeria turns into a hub for technological innovation and research – Kola Oladejo

Nigeria Cybersecurity Summit 2023

The Nigeria Cybersecurity Summit 2023 is a two-day conference that will gather Cybersecurity experts to discuss and arrive at the best strategies to combat cyber-attacks across the continent.

The summit themed “Building a secure digital future” is scheduled to take place from 6th to 7th February 2023 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Over 300 professionals, including CISOs from leading enterprises, Cybersecurity experts and elite ethical hackers from across the West African region, will be in attendance.

The key focus for the Nigeria Cybersecurity Summit 2023 cuts across Leadership & Upskilling, Critical Infrastructure, AI & Threat Intelligence, Risk Mitigation and Cloud Security.

Topics on Biometrics & Identity, the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as Malware & Threats would be addressed.

There will be over 15 hours of insightful sessions and six hours of networking to enable stakeholders to interact, share ideas and get to connect for the future benefit of securing the continent’s online terrain.

Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2023

The Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2023, which is in its fifth year, will yet again link thought leaders in the technology field from across the African ecosystem with international players and other stakeholders on Feb. 15-16, 2023.

This year’s edition will connect over 1000 delegates and more than 150 speakers across three Summits.

Over 450 organisations from different sectors, including fintech, DeFi & crypto ventures, mobile operators, tech corporates, regulators and investors, will be present at the summit.

Participants will have the opportunity to network with key stakeholders, including tech corporates, mobile leaders, fintechs, DeFi & crypto ventures, investors, start-ups, regulators and industry stakeholders driving business and investment forward.

Blockchain Africa Conference

The 9th edition of Bitcoin Events’ flagship summit, the Blockchain Africa Conference, is scheduled for 16-17 March 2023.

This year’s event would be a hybrid edition is holding in Johannesburg, South Africa and virtually across the globe.

The objectives of the conference are to provide a contextual understanding of blockchain technology and the available opportunities for Africa, as well as

to offer well-structured content that will meet the needs of different stakeholders across various industries.

It is also a great platform for networking opportunities centred around creating business partnerships and collaborations expected to provide employment opportunities and foster economic growth and development.

Over 1000 participants from around the world will be attending the conference debates and panel discussions.

I Code Java (ICJ)

I Code Java is Africa’s longest-running Java and Kotlin Conference. Global speakers and Java experts are hosted during the conference to discuss coding, amongst other tech-related matters.

I Code Java Conference will be held in two different South African cities at different times this year. The first conference is scheduled for 10 and 11 May 2023 in Cape Town, while the second is for 11 – 12 October 2023 in Johannesburg.

ICJ has always been a community-driven event which focuses on coding, architecture and developing leadership skills. Developing strong fundamental skills to further your career. Full-time African students have the opportunity to attend the conference for free, as 20% of the tickets have been set aside to support them.

Read also: UCT, GESDA Host Youth In Science And Diplomacy Discourse At WSF

BIM Africa Summit (BAS) 2023

Codenamed BAS 2023, this year’s BIM Africa Summit is a platform to interact with industry stakeholders and share strategies centred on boosting Africa’s development. The summit will exhibit innovation and new technologies in the built environment.

The 2023 edition will be hosted in Marrakech, Morocco, on the 18th and 19th of May, 2023.

It will focus on the digital development of the built environment for a sustainable Africa. There will be discussions and showcases on disruptive technologies from concepts in Laser scanning, 3D printing, Robotics, Digital Twinning, Artificial intelligence, African smart cities, and the Internet of Things to exploring on-demand software and hardware tools to collaborate and deliver the Africa that we want.

There will be over 1,000 exhibition visitors, 200 delegates, 60 exhibitors and 9 Award Categories.

These African technology conferences will expand the minds of participants in the various tech niches as well as other stakeholders that require such services, which ordinarily would cut across multiple sectors. So, make an effort to attend at least one.
January 7, 2023
Kenya, Huawei Collaborate to Train Students on Cybersecurity

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Chinese company Huawei have collaborated in a bid to advance cyber security skills in the East African country.

Director-General of the CA, Ezra Chiloba, revealed this in the country’s capital, Nairobi. He said the three-day intensive training session scheduled to hold between Oct. 17-19 is one of the activities of the month-long celebrations to commemorate national cyber security awareness month marked every October.

Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya, Ezra Chiloba

He emphasised that cyber security is crucial as the future of Kenya’s economy would be larger driven by digital technology.

Read also: Kenya To Host 4th Africa Tech Female Founder Summit

Kenya and Huawei Cybersecurity Training

According to CA’s DG, “We are working with Huawei, who are bringing on board their expansive experience in this sector, and I want to encourage young people who are undertaking courses and are looking forward to participating in the digital economy to invest their time and resources in understanding the future of cyber security.”

He announced that the telecom industry regulator and Huawei would together establish a special cyber security boot camp for students attending institutions of higher learning across the country.

Chiloba added, “The boot camp has attracted more than 1,700 university students across the country. The partnership targets to build capacity amongst technology students to ensure secure networks and cyberspace.”

Official data show that Kenya has nearly 2,000 certified cybersecurity experts, revealing a shortage in the annual demand of 10,000 professionals.

He observed that the boot camp includes a Huawei certification e-learning course on cyber security, virtual lab exercises, on-site training, and mentorship from experts within the field.

“These jointly structured sessions and courses are geared at preparing participants for a successful career in cybersecurity,” Chiloba said.

Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Kenya, Will Meng

On his part, the CEO of Huawei Kenya, Will Meng, said that in the last 20 years, the company had supported the building of secure networks across Kenya, which has shown their contribution to the economic growth of the East African nation.

According to Will, “We are pleased to work with the CA to provide training to students to enhance their capacity to operate networks and systems securely and to be safe online.”

The training session also comes on the heels of the launch of the novel National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022 by the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4). A major objective of the strategy is to boost national cyber security capacity and create more local specialized professionals.

The training will include a Huawei Certification e-learning course on cyber security, on-site classes, virtual lab exercises, and mentorship from professionals within the sector.

These sessions and courses are facilitated to prepare participants for a career in cybersecurity, and developing an initiative is also one of the activities under the Technical Cooperation Agreement signed by CA and Huawei earlier in the year.

Read also: Liquid Launches Africa’s First Cyber Security “Fusion” Centre

About Communications Authority of Kenya

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is the regulatory authority for the communications sector in the East African country. It was set up in 1999 by the Kenya Information and Communications Act of 1998.

The government regulator is responsible for facilitating the development of the information and communications sectors, including; broadcasting, cybersecurity, multimedia, telecommunications, electronic commerce, postal and courier services.

CA has multiple functions that cut across licensing all systems and services in the communications industry, managing the country’s frequency spectrum and numbering resources, amongst many other duties.

About Huawei

Huawei is a global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices.

With a presence in 70 countries and regions, the company facilitates ubiquitous digital connectivity and promotes equal access to networks to lay the foundation for the intelligent populace.

Huawei also provides diversified computing power to deliver ubiquitous cloud and intelligence; creates powerful digital platforms to assist all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, offering consumers a more personalized and intelligent experience across all human endeavours.

October 24, 2022
Cyberattacks Ravages European Oil Companies

European major oil transport and storage companies are battling with cyber-attacks. Companies including Evos (Netherlands), SEA-Invest (Belgium), and Oiltanking (Germany) are witnessing the disruption of their IT infrastructure. These attacks are having a global effect, with about a dozen terminals being affected. The affected companies confirmed its occurrence in the last few days.

According to Oxford Dictionaries, cyber-attacks are “the act of trying to damage or destroy a computer network, computer system or website by secretly changing information on it without permission”.

Although, the severity of this attack is yet to be determined. Analysts in the industry asserted that the three companies were significantly affected by significant disruption and total collapse of their IT systems. A spokeswoman for SEA-Invest affirmed the incident and said it affected every port of the company in Africa and Europe.

A Typical Port (source: SEA-Invest)

While Belgian prosecutors have started investigation, there is no confirmation of such moves in Africa. The company is present in Senegal, South Africa and Ivory Coast. There has been no official statement from the three African countries about the attack and the depth of impact on the ports. Despite the attack, the liquid transportation remains operational while the company seeks to restore their backup IT system.

Ransomware is “type of software that is designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid”.

On the other hand, Evos has confirmed that Malta, Ghent, and Terneuzen are the ports affected. As of the press time, no conclusion has been reached concerning the source of this attack.

Cyberattacks in Oil and Gas Industry

The energy sector has been a victim of cyberattacks. In 2017, Notpetya (Ukraine) was attacked 2017, resulting in the shutdown of almost the country’s entire power grid. This is not the first time that oil installations have been attacked. In May 2021, U.S. oil supplier Colonial Pipeline experienced supply problems due to a ransomware attack. It resulted in limited capacity across the U.S., resulting in an emergency.

Read Also : IOS or ANDROID which is safer from Cyber attack?

Cyberattacks on energy firms might impact different aspects such as confidentiality, integrity, and availability. It can even result in endangering the lives of workers. Ahmed Bakr, a Saudi Arabian senior cybersecurity officer (CSO), stated that “Oil and gas companies are targets of cybercriminals. We all are. Their attacks are intended to target a company’s systems and inflict damage by compromising the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of data for example.” The companies are exposed to large-scale threats because of the transnational nature of the players. The threat can even come from activists that can even be environmental groups.

Research conducted by the U.S. research institute Ponemon in 2017 discovered that 68percent of U.S. oil and gas companies had experienced a form of cyber attack resulting in loss of confidential information or operational disruption. This further attests to Norway’s experience of 50 oil and Energy companies being infected with Trojan virus. The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) cited the energy sector as the most vulnerable industry to cyber-attacks. Hence, the need for the energy sector to focus on cyber resilience.

February 9, 2022