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IOL News
05-08-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality requests additional R22 million for urgent Solomon Mahlangu Drive roadworks
The eThekwini Municipality will need an additional R22 million to complete roadworks on the busy Solomon Mahlangu Drive-M7 between the Wakesleigh/Vusi Mzimela Road intersection and N2. Image: File The eThekwini Municipality will need an additional R22 million to complete roadworks on the busy Solomon Mahlangu Drive-M7. The municipality has notified councillors, at a recent council meeting, that there was a need for a contract amendment for the Solomon Mahlangu (M7) contract, which spans from the N2 Solomon Intersection to Wakesleigh and Vusi Mzimela Road. The contract, after being revised, is estimated to now cost R88.6 million. According to the report presented, the contractor was appointed on June 8, 2021, to widen the existing eastbound carriageway of Solomon Mahlangu by providing an additional lane. However, in September 2021, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) informed the municipality of its intention to upgrade the existing N2/M7 interchange, similar to the upgraded Umgeni Interchange on the N2 Freeway. Little detail was provided on this upgrade, nor was any artist's impression of how the new interchange could look. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The SANRAL upgrade includes two new lanes to merge into the existing Solomon Mahlangu Drive carriageway. The report stated that this then resulted in additional work for the municipality, as a need existed to construct a mechanically stabilised earth wall along the eastbound carriageway of Solomon Mahlangu Drive to accommodate this new off-ramp. According to the municipality, amendments to the contract were motivated by The project has been affected by localised floods, causing damage to the work already under way. The increased rainfall resulted in groundwater flow into the excavated area embankment of the eastern carriageway, causing a slope failure; thus, emergency repairs were undertaken to provide stability. Specialist lateral support work to the embankment is also required to maintain stability of the existing embankment and for the construction to proceed more safely, with this operation resulting in additional costs and extending the duration of the project. Challenges encountered during the construction of the foundation of the Mechanically Stabilised Earth Wall, where, upon excavation, sections of bedrock were discovered along the length of the wall, thus necessitating a redesign of the concrete base dimensions to suit the existing site conditions. The roadworks' additional funding also comes at a time when SANRAL is improving the N3 and N2 road corridors, which are expected to take another eight years to complete, depending on funding availability. The upgrade of the N2 focuses on a 55km length, from the Lovu River on the South Coast to Umdloti on the North Coast, while the N3 upgrade focuses on a 79.3km section from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. On the N2, upgrades are expected at the Isipingo Interchange, Adams Road interchange, and Higginson Highway interchange.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Why ransomware attack simulation training essential to prepare for cyberattacks
Beyond monetary losses, the erosion of customer trust and brand reputation can be irreparable. As cyber threats evolve, businesses must prioritise robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard their assets and ensure resilience in the face of this ever-present danger, says the writer. Businesses today are forced to navigate an increasingly perilous landscape of cyber threats, characterised by the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. The financial repercussions are staggering, with the average cost of a data breach reaching millions of dollars. According to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million (R88.6 million), which is a 10% increase over the previous year and the highest total ever. Beyond monetary losses, the erosion of customer trust and brand reputation can be irreparable. As cyber threats evolve, businesses must prioritise robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard their assets and ensure resilience in the face of this ever-present danger. However, despite the ever-increasing threat of cyberattacks, many organisations still lack effective controls and incident response plans, nor do they have the 'muscle memory' gained from having faced and overcome a cyber breach previously. This is where the value of a ransomware attack simulation becomes apparent, as it is a crucial component in helping to prepare organisations for effectively responding to cyber incidents. The insights gained from these simulations and training sessions can help enterprises adopt a 'survival time objective' mindset, which focuses on the key metrics of time to detect, time to respond and time to recover. Challenges and critical decision points These training events typically see participants experience a simulated cyberattack in small groups, taking on roles in the leadership team of a fictional company during a ransomware negotiation. Participants are faced with challenges and critical decision points as they choose their response plans against the backdrop of a crafted story based on known network breaches that have hit some of the biggest global companies.
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Why ransomware attack simulation training is essential to prepare organisations for real-life cyberattacks
The value of a ransomware attack simulation becomes apparent, as it is a crucial component in helping to prepare organisations for effectively responding to cyber incidents. Image: Supplied Businesses today are forced to navigate an increasingly perilous landscape of cyber threats, characterised by the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. The financial repercussions are staggering, with the average cost of a data breach reaching millions of dollars. According to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million (R88.6 million), which is a 10% increase over the previous year and the highest total ever. Beyond monetary losses, the erosion of customer trust and brand reputation can be irreparable. As cyber threats evolve, businesses must prioritise robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard their assets and ensure resilience in the face of this ever-present danger. However, despite the ever-increasing threat of cyberattacks, many organisations still lack effective controls and incident response plans, nor do they have the 'muscle memory' gained from having faced and overcome a cyber breach previously. This is where the value of a ransomware attack simulation becomes apparent, as it is a crucial component in helping to prepare organisations for effectively responding to cyber incidents. The insights gained from these simulations and training sessions can help enterprises adopt a 'survival time objective' mindset, which focuses on the key metrics of time to detect, time to respond and time to recover. Challenges and critical decision points These training events typically see participants experience a simulated cyberattack in small groups, taking on roles in the leadership team of a fictional company during a ransomware negotiation. Participants are faced with challenges and critical decision points as they choose their response plans against the backdrop of a crafted story based on known network breaches that have hit some of the biggest global companies. This approach – along with developing a robust response plan – can significantly enhance an organisation's cyber resilience and facilitate continuous business operations as it emphasises the growing need for businesses to proactively address the threat of ransomware and cyberattacks. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Ransomware attack simulations force executives to ask themselves critical questions when facing a breach, such as how to respond and what the plan of action should be. The key objective of a simulation is to empower businesses and help them adopt the right mindset when it comes to addressing cyber threats. Not only do the insights gained from simulation exercises help organisations better prepare for and respond to ransomware and other cyberattacks, but they also distinguish disaster recovery from cyber recovery, underscoring the importance of developing a tailored approach to cyber resilience, rather than relying solely on traditional disaster recovery plans. Lessons apply to real-life scenarios Simulations are designed to help participants understand the perspectives and decision-making processes of the four key personas involved, namely the CEO, CTO, CISO and legal counsel. While it is a make-believe scenario, the lessons learnt from a simulation can be applied to a real-life cyber incident. Simulations prompt participants to consider the critical statements, objectives and outcomes they would need to address when engaging with real-life threat actors. This includes weighing the decision to negotiate, potentially involving a third-party negotiator, and ultimately determining whether to pay the ransom or rely on the organisation's own cyber resilience and trust in deployed technologies. Essentially, exposing executives to these advanced cybersecurity tools and strategies, simulations aim to give each persona, such as the CEO, CTO and CISO, the confidence to develop a comprehensive cyber resiliency plan and take the necessary actions to protect their organisation. In this way, simulations aim to better prepare organisations for the real-world challenges they may face when confronted with a ransomware incident. This holistic approach to simulations, combining decision-making processes and practical cybersecurity solutions, helps prepare executives to effectively respond to and recover from real-world ransomware and cyberattacks, ultimately enhancing an organisation's overall cyber resilience. Graham Brown, Country Manager at Commvault. Image: Supplied. BUSINESS REPORT
