Cyber security identified as major threat to business

Top Business executives from the financial sector met to discuss the increasing threat of cyber crime and the technology solutions available to address the threat and enhance their network security. The discussions were the first of a series of industry round table discussions organized by Columbus Business Solutions.  This session, held under the theme "Leveraging Innovative Technological Solutions for the Financial Sector" included panel presentations by top industry experts and a live hack demonstration by Martin Voelk of Cyber 51, highlighting the nature of network vulnerabilities in the industry.

Cyber crime is a major driver behind financial fraud, which has reportedly amounted to over $2 billion in Jamaica over the last four years, according to the police. Government statistics reveal that more than 1,000 websites have been hacked, including those run by the state, between 2011 and 2012. What's more, the Cyber Crime Unit in the office of the Director of Public Prosecution last month revealed that there have been a staggering 88 cases of third party, debit card and credit card fraud since the start of the year.

In his presentation to the attendees, Livingston Morrison, Deputy Governor for Bank of Jamaica  reiterated the importance of  technology for network security  saying  “Financial institutions must invest heavily in technology in order to operate in the domestic financial system and to maintain a competitive financial posture in the marketplace. The facilitation of appropriate technologies facilitates the regulatory process in several ways; preserving data integrity, early warning system with triggers and notifications, business intelligence with predictive analytics are just a few.”

Gilbert Perez, Territory Manager for Fortinet a  leading global network security provider, cautioned that companies operating in the Caribbean should be aware of their vulnerability to cyber threats. “Many companies and small businesses may think security is something that doesn’t affect them because they are in the Caribbean. However, as more companies in the rest of the world are starting to strengthen their network security making it more difficult for hackers to get access to their network assets, they are looking at other more vulnerable destinations, some of which are in the Caribbean,” he said.

Fortinet has partnered with Columbus Business Solutions to deliver cost effective cloud based network security solutions. “Columbus is a managed security service provider and in partnership with Columbus we can deliver the solutions that can be provided as a service through the cloud, protecting customers from the higher costs associated with the investment to deploy the hardware and systems to deliver the network security,” said Perez.

“This Round Table is the first in a series to facilitate dynamic discussion in specific sectors, to help advance the goals of enhancing business efficiency and maximizing profits,” said John Clear, Vice President for Columbus Business Solutions, which is operated by Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited. “The issue of cyber security is very topical and worthy of continued investment and attention.  We’ll continue to hold these discussions for cloud infrastructure, business continuity and other cloud services,” he continued.

Ingrid Riley, social media strategist attending the round table commended the initiative.  “The discussions today presented both the business and technical side of the issue of cyber security, bringing more awareness about the possibilities of doing business in the digital age and how to be proactive about protecting our networks.”

Participants at the round table discussion included industry leaders, academia and policy makers, who presented different views on the application of technology and the regulatory framework needed to address the growing problem of Internet-related crime. Among the presenters at the forum were The Honourable Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining;  Dennis Chung, CEO of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica, Livingstone Morrison Deputy Governor at the Bank of Jamaica, Dr Thomas Thompson Senior Director for Fiscal Services,  Claudette Crooks-Collie, President, MoneyMasters Jamaica and Sheldon Powe, Chief Information Officer for Jamaica Money Market Brokers, Columbus Business Solutions provided a comprehensive range of Business Class ICT solutions for SME, Enterprise and Government clients across the Caribbean and Latin America.

Spanish Town Spartans continue to Defy Odds in Flow NBL

Twenty thirteen marks the second year that the Spanish Town Spartans are gracing the stage of the Flow National Basketball League. In their debut season, the Spartans managed a respectable nine wins and five losses heading to the first round of the play-offs, but lack of experience saw their season ending then and there.

Fast forward to 2013 and the Spartans are showing their true mettle having revamped the squad and made changes to their management and coaching staff.

A 13-1 record including a remarkable win over defending champions Urban Knights in the mid season final, has shown that the team which originated from Tawes Pen in Spanish Town is not here to make up numbers, but to go all the way to the top. 

Assistant coach Lennox Lindo explains the key to the team’s success thus far.

“We changed the entire organisational structure of the team this year, bringing in Coach Calvin Martin who was once the head coach at Urban Knights, he brings a lot of experience to the team and that I must say has paid off big time for us,” said Lindo. 

The Spartans have been busy in the off season as well, bringing in former players from Urban Knights and Harbour View Lakers to bolster their roster.

Shooting guard Lynford Brown and point guard Javon Bailey have been the mainstay of the team this season, averaging 16 and 10 points respectively per game. Bailey has also been dishing out assists all season long as well, averaging five per game.

However it is the strict training regime and the attention to detail that has brought about a renewed vigour to the team that trains at the GC Foster College. 

 

“We train three times per week some time two three hours at a time, we have players that are teachers, labourers, university students on our team, so we have a diverse group but we instil in them commitment and discipline at all times, and they have responded admirably,” said Lindo.

The coaching staff made no bones about some of the challenges they face despite their relative success.

“We have gotten some help from businesses in and around the Spanish Town area but we still need a lot of help if we are to make it all the way to the championship game and claim the title,” he said.

Despite this, the Spartans  believe they have what it takes to bring some much needed silverware to Spanish Town and the parish of St Catherine and prove that the sport of basketball is not only entrenched in the city of Kingston.

The Spanish Town Spartans will play Tivoli Wizards next on Sunday, July 7 at the Pembroke Hall Community Centre.

Free movies for Flow customers

Watching television programming via the more flexible Video OnDemand service is increasingly gaining popularity due to the greater convenience this offers to television viewers who seek to balance their need for diverse entertainment and their own busy schedules.

Video OnDemand represents a major shift in television viewership habits from linear programme schedules to watching television on the viewer's own convenience. OnDemand technology is delivered to Jamaican homes by Columbus Communications, operators of the Flow and Columbus Business Solutions brands. The company has reported an increase in the number of viewers who use the service, signifying a gradual transformation in how cable customers watch TV.

This summer, consumers' entertainment gets another boost as Flow is giving customers the opportunity to enjoy two free movies from the Video OnDemand platform.  The movies 'Parker' and 'Parental Guidance' can be viewed free of cost before August 31, 2013 by any customer who signs up for a new Flow Watch package by July 21.

Action lovers will get a kick out of 'Parker', the 2013 action/crime about a thief who assumes a new disguise and forms and elaborate plan to get back at his crew after being double crossed and left for dead. This fast-paced story revealing how he tries to hijack his crew's latest heist will leave viewers at the edge of their seats. On the other hand, 'Parental Guidance' is a hilarious movie about old school grandparents Artie and Annie who are left to look after their 21st century grandchildren. The comedy starring  Billy Crystal and Bette Midler is a great movie for the entire family. 

 

"This is another demonstration of our firm commitment to ensure that consumers always enjoy the most value from Flow," said Donovan White, vice president sales and marketing for Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited, operators of the Flow brand. "Summer is all about fun and the best entertainment. Our Video OnDemand service delivers thousands of hours of the best entertainment with a diverse library of movies, music, TV series and more for the entire family." 

 

The new offer comes as another layer of value that consumers are enjoying as part of Flow's Summer Promotion "All You Need is Flow".  This is in addition to the already announced offers which give all Flow customers the opportunity to win one of three weekly prizes of one year free cable, internet and phone service; free installation on all services; 50 free minutes to local numbers and ten free channels from the company's Cable Your Way plan.  In addition, customers are eligible to win the grand prize of a family vacation anywhere in Jamaica, valued at $250,000.

Flow is the only provider that includes a Video OnDemand service as part of its digital cable TV service. With Video OnDemand, consumers are able to purchase videos from a large library of an extensive variety of content, to watch at their convenience in the comfort of their home. With the price of a premiere movie being only $350.00, Flow OnDemand enables an entire family to enjoy a blockbuster movie at home, for less than it would cost to purchase a single ticket at the cinema. Flow's Video OnDemand library includes hundreds of hours of programming for all ages and preferences, including movies, TV series, local plays, music events, and children's programming.  Every month more content is added so that customers can always find something new and entertaining to watch.

Tivoli Wizards playing for Pride in Flow NBL

Come Friday, August 16, the Tivoli Wizards will have a chance at the third place spot in this season’s Flow National Basketball League (FNBL) competition. The 2011 champions did not advance to the finals but go up against relative newcomers Pembroke Hall at the National Stadium Courts to redeem a place in the top three. 

 

Pembroke Hall was overrun by defending champions Urban Knights 79-58 and 82-55, but the Wizards have no plans of taking it easy on them. “This is very important to us because we want to protect our reputation,” said Tivoli Wizards team manager Troy Constantine. “We’re going at them with all guns blazing.” 

 

Constantine said he doesn’t expect Pembroke Hall to just roll over and play dead either as they also want to make a name for themselves as the new kids on the block that almost made it all the way. 

 

The Wizards began the season with high expectations. Blessed with some of the island’s best home-grown talent, the Wizards have been contenders for the past four seasons, but were eventually derailed by darkness. The Wizards share courts near Darling Street with the Tivoli Gardens netball team. It is where the players hone their talents at night as the bid for yet another national title but early this year the Jamaica Public Service turned the lights on out them. Constantine reveals that their monthly light bill was somewhere between J$18,000 and J$20,000. The bill then jumped to about J$240,000. It was eventually discovered that people were stealing electricity from the court and they would end up having to pay. They refused and the power was cut.

This forced the team to make alternative arrangements which turned off many of the players. “We had to travel to Olympic Gardens in the evenings to train and some of the players were not coming out. It put off some of them,” Constantine revealed. “We didn’t get the commitment from some of the players and eventually team came down from 15 to between nine and 11 players.”

In the playoff for third, The Wizards will depend on stalwarts like Anthony Farquharson, Audley Smith, the defensive capabilities of Mowanga Campbell and the rebounding of Troy Campbell, whose absence late in the season was also a major blow to the team. Constantine believes ramping up the defense against Pembroke Hall will help pave the way towards victory as the team situation continues to improve.

The management has worked out an agreement with the JPS, so the team should soon be able to train on home ground again. They will now focus on taking on the job at hand, as nothing less than third is acceptable. “Fourth place? No sir. We will not settle for fourth,” Constantine said.  Now that they are playing for pride, the Wizards have suddenly had the lights switched on again.

Tivoli Wizards will play Pembroke Hall for third place on Friday, August 16 at the National Stadium while Urban Knights and Spanish Town Spartans will face off in the best of three finals on August 16 and 20 at the same venue.

Flow NBL Stars Gunning for MVP Title

Three of the biggest names in the 2013 Flow National Basketball League are among the players vying for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award slated to be announced at the end of the soon to be completed season. Spanish Town Spartans’ Lynford “Shooty” Brown and Majesty Gardens Legends’ Havando Dunn and Baldon Todd  are in the running for the prestigious title.

Leading the trio is Spanish Town Spartans shooting guard Lynford “Shooty” Brown who has amassed 332 points at an average of 18.4 per game. The national representative has been an instrumental player for the Spartans as they bid to secure the Flow National Basketball League title in the Game 1 of the best of three finals on Friday, August 16.

Brown’s impressive numbers have put him in good stead for the MVP crown, having recorded an average 39.2 points percentage. It is however his range from beyond the arc that has raised the eyebrows of the league’s hierarchy. Brown has knocked down fifty three-pointers this season, more than any other player in the league. The quick-handed ball handler has also recorded the most steals, thirty three.

Another player who will stake a strong claim for the MVP honours is Majesty Gardens Legends shooting guard Havando Dunn. The 24 year old Dunn, who also plays the point guard position, has scored 326 points in the season at an average of 21.7 per game.

Dunn, who once played for Jamaica’s Under 19 team, has thrown down 99 two-pointers to lead all players. Having a reputation of showcasing some massive dunks, Dunn is also known to be an outstanding defender, registering eight blocks. The player who stands at six foot four inches has also forced forty seven turn overs.

Also vying for the MVP accolade is Dunn’s teammate, Baldon Todd. The Majesty Gardens Legends team captain has been the consummate leader at the shooting guard position, racking up 296 points at 19.7 points per game.

Dunn has been regarded as one of the best free throw shooters in the league having made 88 in the season thus far. Defensively, the skipper has made his mark as an all-round player, leading the league with 176 rebounds, almost doubling the amount of his nearest rival Dunn.

The 31 year old Todd has also been dishing out assists, posting 32 to top the competition. He also leads the turn over stats with 53 for the season.

Lyndford Brown will be in action again Tuesday, August 20 at the National Stadium as the Spartans face off with Urban Knights in Game 2 of the finals.

Discovery Channel , Flow partnership brings technology boost for Back To School

As the back to school preparations of parents, educators and students move into high gear, a partnership between  the Discovery Channel and Flow in association with the office of the Mayor of Montego Bay  will showcase  the importance and impact of technology-aided learning at home and in the classroom. This comes as part of a Back to School fair that the three parties have come together to host in Montego Bay this weekend.

Through this partnership, parents and teachers will have greater access to educational material available via The Discovery Channel, whose programming complements and enhances the learning experiences of children through a diverse range of fun and interactive programming. Over 140 primary and secondary schools across the island are beneficiaries of Flow’s Building Leaders Through Technology programme, receiving free internet and cable TV service in their libraries, classrooms and computer labs. Students and teachers are able to view the programmes on the Discovery Channel and access the vast array of educational content online at various Discovery Channel online portals, both while at school and at home.

On Saturday August 24^th, more than 1000 parents, teachers and students will reap early benefits from the partnership as they participate in activities at the Flow/Discovery Channel Back To School Fair. The afternoon’s activities will include presentations and exhibits to deliver educational tips, professional development and educator support for teachers from representatives from the Discovery Channel and a host of other partners in the local health, educations and financial sectors. Sangster’s book stores will extend discounts on books and school supplies and free health screenings will be conducted for children. A highlight will include a session for parents about using the internet safely to enhance their children’s learning experience online.  Three lucky students will have the opportunity to win scholarships valued at $30,000 and up to 100 persons will receive free backpacks full of school supplies valued at over $6,000 from the Discovery Channel.  

“Enabling the delivery of education and enhancing the learning process with our technology is an area of  major focus for us. We have a long tradition of partnering with our international channel providers and are pleased to join forces with the Discovery Channel to bring meaningful assistance to the community in Western Jamaica as they prepare for the new school year,” said Nicole Campbell, Corporate Social Responsibility Executive for Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited, operators of the Flow brand.

The Flow/Discovery Back to School Fair takes place from 12 noon to 6pm at the Old Hospital Park in Montego Bay.  Entertainment by a host of performers will round out the afternoon’s activities.

Scholarships, Education, Fun and Entertainment delivered to Western Jamaica families

Three lucky students walked away with scholarships valued at $30,000 each courtesy of Flow and the Discovery Channel over the weekend. Kadine Powell, Taiesha Neisha and Dahlia Reid were awarded the grants after being chosen from over 1,000 patrons who turned out at the Old Hospital Park in Montego Bay for the Flow/Discovery back to school fair on Saturday, August 24.

Kadine Powell said that the grant would greatly assist with relieving some of the burdens associated with the new school year and a pleasant surprise.

Ardette Ambersley, Kadine’s mother, noted that the scholarship would help, “in every way!”  She continued to explain that, “I didn’t buy or prepare anything for back to school and now, I can finally get started.”

Dahilia Reid, an unemployed engineer was another winner of a scholarship and was proud to announce she would be giving this to her sister to help with Back to School preparations for her niece and nephews who all attended the afternoon’s events with her. “I have not been able to do much to help them since I have not been working recently, so I am pleased to be able to give this to them at this critical time,” she said as she hugged her 11 year old niece Shayane, who attends Catherine Hall Primary.

It was a day full of fun, education and excitement as parents and children were treated to special back to school gear, stationery and other supplies from various partners who came onboard to support the initiative.

Flow and the Discovery Channel also provided school bags with notebooks and other useful supplies to students who attended the Fair.  Additionally, the children enjoyed a special appearance from the international broadcaster’s official mascot and animated character Doki, who entertained throughout the day showing off popular dance moves and took photos with them.

Other partners for  The Flow/Discovery Back To School Fair included the Jamaica Observer, who provided free Back to School gifts for children, discounts on books in the Jamaica Observer Lecture Series and hosted the popular Learning Centre Pavilion with facepainting and a colouring zone for the children. Sangsters provided discounts on text books, The Ministry of Labour and Social Security shared information on the PATH programme, NCB provided details about its OMNI Educator plan and KFC and Wisynco provided meals and beverages for patrons throughout the afternoon. Volunteers from the National Health Fund, Cornwall Regional Hospital, University of Technology (UTECH) and CUMI provided free health checks for attendees with supplies provided by Fontana Pharmacy.

 “The day has been a total success!” explained Discovery Account Manager - Affiliate Sales Yne Gonzales.  “There were big smiles from children and adults who recognized Doki from watching the Discovery Kids,” she added.  Parents and children on site were happy to learn about the multi-platform, multi-language learning tools available from Discovery via the Flow network online and cable TV.

Later this year, Discovery Networks Latin America introduce their cable in the classroom programming (‘Discovery En La Escuela’), which is comprised of interactive educational content  that will give a boost to education delivered in the classroom as well as being useful to parents and students to deepen knowledge of topics covered in the curriculum.

The Flow/Discovery Channel partnership for Back To School is another initiative from Flow that complements the company’s Building Leaders Through Technology Programme which provides free commercial grade internet and cable to over 140 primary and secondary schools across the island.

“We are very pleased to have been able to further fulfil our commitment to give back to communities in Western Jamaica with this Back To School Fair,” said Nicole Campbell, corporate social responsibility executive for Columbus Communications Jamaica Limited, operators of Flow. “The response from the families who attended and from our public and private sector partners exceeded all expectations. We will continue to implement initiatives such as this which will enable Jamaicans to realize their full potential in education and all other endeavours.”