IT sector players lament growing cases of cyber crime

Players in the IT sector have expressed concern over increasing cases of cyber crime in the country.

Speaking in Naivasha during the official opening of the East African edition of the CIO100 Survey 2014, an annual assessment that identifies leading companies in the use and adoption of technology, CIO East Africa chief executive Harry Hare said cases of cyber crime had become more rampant as more people were building their businesses online.

“Cybercrime is proportional to the more online business, hence the need for online business operators to secure their data,” said Mr Hare. “Cyber crime is serious but it is like any other crime and players in the IT industry need to protect their work,” he said.

Mr Hare noted that the government has been a target for hackers as well as financial institutions.

“Last year we had like 103 government websites that were hacked,” said Mr Hare.

The CIO100 Survey, which is in its fourth year, bestows senior IT executives who have created value for their companies, with recipients of the CIO 100 Award being selected through a three-tier procedure.

“For a start, interested companies fill out an online application form detailing their innovative IT and business initiatives. The survey looks at the organisation’s adoption, utilisation, investment and the impact IT has had in the organisation and on its customers,” said the CEO.