Michael Kimwele

Information Technology (IT) Security in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Information Technology (IT) security is an issue which cannot be wished away by organizations and particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs should embrace IT security in order to realize the benefits of IT without compromising the IT security status. Much like any other business asset, information is an asset that needs to be strategically managed and protected. It is therefore imperative that SMEs understand the value of information contained within their business systems and have a framework for assessing and implementing IT security. To address challenges faced by SMEs especially in Kenya, this research establishes an Information Technology (IT) framework that can allow Kenyan SMEs implement cost effective security measures. Particularly this work considers IT security requirements and appropriate metrics. There is evidence from the research to suggest that despite having some IT security measures in place, Kenyan SMEs still face some serious IT security challenges. In the light of the challenges faced by Kenyan SMEs, this work recommends a framework which is supposed among other things provide metrics of evaluating the effectiveness of implemented security measures. The framework is likely to assist SME stakeholders measure the effectiveness of their security enhancing mechanisms.

A Social Network-based Framework for Interactive and Personalized Web-based Learning

E-learning has been practiced extensively across the globe, and thanks to Internet penetration and advancement it is progressively being adopted among students in the learning environment. E-learning systems are currently available from high schools to higher institutions of learning globally. However, the systems still lack in covering certain areas of the education sphere and conventional frameworks of e-learning are incapable of answering to those demands both for learners and tutors. This paper proposes a framework that integrates social networks into web-based learning environment to make the environments more interactive and personalized. This research paper shows increased social interactivity and personalization through user profiles in the e-learning environment. This paper also evaluates some of the existing frameworks of e-learning and introduces a new functional framework integrated with Facebook social network that aims to enhance personalized and interactive web-based learning environment. To evaluate the proposed framework’s personalized interactivity, experiments and online surveys were conducted. An analysis of the data collected was carried out with the aim of trying to establish the existence of any relationship between the student’s performances and increased social interactivity after the use of the proposed framework in the e-learning environment. Increased social interactivity among education actors, enhanced e-learning environment, better learning outcomes and performance and increased learner productivity and participation across cross-platforms were mentioned as some of the perceived impacts of social interaction in an elearning environment. A total of 84% of the respondents reported lack of personalization and 66% mentioned inadequate e-learning infrastructure and unreliable information whilst 62% indicated inadequate training of lecturers or course instructors as significant barriers of elearning systems not integrated with social network(s). The outcome of this research can be used to contribute to best teaching practices among lecturers and improve online learning experiences to students in institutions of higher learning.

Critical Success Factors Influencing Adoption and Use of E-government Services by SMEs in the Manufacturing Sector in Kenya

The world over, e-government is increasingly becoming an important means of delivering public service due to the numerous benefits associated with it. Despite this however, low uptake and use of the available e-government services has been witnessed in many developing countries. This occurrence is being attributed to the fact that existing technology adoption models don’t take into consideration the unique setting of developing countries leading to complete failures or partial successes of e-government projects. To address this problem, the research sought to establish the critical success factors that influence Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector in Kenya to adopt and use e-government services. The study findings are intended to help designers, developers and implementers of e-government projects or G2B platform designers recognize strategic areas of focus that will ensure increased uptake and use of e-government services. To realize the main objective of this study, an exploratory approach using a descriptive survey design was used. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for social science (S.P.S.S). From the findings of the survey conducted from a sample of 124 SMEs, usefulness, ease of use, quality of the website, government regulations and incentives, organization competitiveness due to use of e-government services, faster broadband connectivity, affordable connectivity, network security and data protection and e-government awareness/training were found to be the most critical success factors that influence the adoption and use of e-government services by SMEs.

Hybrid Insider Cyber Security Threats Mitigation Scheme Using ECC and Behavoural Analysis Methodology

The last decade has been characterized by many organizations making it their priority to embrace digital technologies in running their services. Cyberspace has hugely dominated how organizations use electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to manipulate, and exchange data via interconnected systems. Due to cyber space’s great dependence on informatics and telecommunications for almost every activity and service, it’s extremely catastrophic to ignore the growing phenomenon of cybercrimes and the increasing number of threats to organizations’ systems. The threat to enterprises from insider activities is increasing, getting worse and that significant losses are being incurred. ESG research indicates that more than half (54%) of IT and security professionals believe that insider threats are more difficult to detect or even prevent today than they were in 2011 (Jon Oltsik, 2013). While many organizations focus their security efforts on their network border via excellently configured firewall systems, it is actually the insider who perhaps poses the most risk to cyber-security. Even the existence of some personnel can be at stake if the data is leaked. Cyber Security takes many forms and the range and nature of threat is so varied that there just isn’t any getting away from the fact that it will require a multi-faceted solution. This paper suggests a hybrid framework aimed at guiding the management in coming up with a near real time mitigation solution that can be used to mitigate (Detecting, Preventing and Responding) the dynamic enigma of insider threats. The framework is based on behavioral variation analysis in conjunction with the use of technical techniques. We tried to change the landscape by adding the technological and behavioral equivalent of security cameras or additional lighting, and see whether the resulting uncertainty will eradicate the risk of attack in the cyber space.

Textual Emotion Communication with Non-verbal Symbols in Online Environments

Recently computer mediated communication became a popular way of interaction. Unfortunately nonverbal elements are normally absent in these online communications. This paper describes the results of a study carried out to determine the use of textual symbols/patterns to provide nonverbal cues and to express emotions in online text based environments. The focus is on the use of online textual symbols/patterns of vocalics (e.g. the use of capitals and use of punctuation “!” and “!!s!” or “?” and “???”, length of response e.t.c), and those of chronemics (e.g. time to respond to an email or to a chat message) to communicate emotions in text. The study forms a basis for the development of an affect recognition model that is able to recognize emotions from written language and especially in environments where informal styles of writing are used.