The coronavirus pandemic is hitting the global economy hard. While it is hard to exactly tell the extent the damage the virus will have on the economy, economists and researchers agree that it will have severe adverse impacts, some of which are already being experienced.
Kenya’s ISACA chapter yesterday hosted a half day online conference for professionals in the country to discuss how they can navigate through pandemics such as the ongoing Covid-19.
The conference brought together more than 90 professionals and was facilitated by different industry subject matter experts with representatives from Huawei, Communication Authority of Kenya, Safaricom among others.
Speaking during the conference Ken Kaberia, Head Enterprise Risk at Safaricom highlighted what business leaders should look for in the coming weeks. He took participants through steps towards recovery warning that rapid Return comes with higher risks, and a new reality.
He also took the participants through an effective methodology of return- AACT Planning Model. The model focuses on adopting the business to a new world, Accelerating structural shifts, Crafting stage-based return plans, workforce and customers and time- transitioning given the local environment that most businesses will be considering stage-based return.
With the world also going through the biggest work from home experiment ever, Ken informed the audience that remote work may have important benefits beyond resilience to Covid-19.
‘’These benefits may include improved productivity, lower cost production, Improved Talent access, and high employee’s satisfaction. ‘’ he said.
Mercy Wanjau, AG Director General Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) noted that
ICT Regulator is concerned about the risks and disruptions during the pandemic. She said that CA is committed towards helping and also to protect consumers during these systemic disruptions.
‘’Digital connectivity drives every aspect of the Kenyan economy: creating jobs, increasing productivity and efficiency. ‘’ she said.
‘’From interconnected health systems to enhanced detection and response to the pandemic; to all levels of education going online; e-government, working from home; e-commerce for business sustainability, amongst others. Therefore, digital connectivity is our new reality that is currently being critically tested with the systemic disruption caused by the current pandemic and associated risks.’’ she added.
At the conference Deputy CEO, Public Affairs Huawei Kenya Adam Lane reiterated the need to have cybersecurity strategies during this pandemic. He outlined Huawei’s strategy on Smart Devices, Connectivity, Computing, Cloud and Providing Products and Solutions for enterprises.
‘’Huawei is committed to providing technology for all, and technology for good that prioritizes development, enhances global collaboration, promotes innovation and ensures ubiquitous connectivity, digitization and AI. ‘’ he said.
Through the Ministry of ICT, Adam noted that they have been able to share global experiences in how ICT can help fight against COVID-19 through best practices. Huawei has previously provided video conference equipments that helped multiple Kenyan Ministries improve their coordination, and learning from overseas.
Commenting on how to Rethinking IT Governance , Mark Thomas, CGEIT, CRISC Escoute, LLC noted that That a tailored governance system requires a multitude of components, including processes, organizational structures, Information flows, behaviors, etc
‘’These need to work together in a systemic way in any governance system which will synchronize the IT, business and assurance functions. Participants were taken through the flexibility of the COBIT 2019 framework and how to develop a tailored governance system using the design factors with a real-world case Study’’ he said.
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