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Continuous auditing technologies and models

  • Authors: Blundell, Adrian Wesley
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Auditing , Auditing -- Data processing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9798 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/476 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011922 , Auditing , Auditing -- Data processing
  • Description: Continuous auditing is not a totally new concept, but it has not been widely implemented, and has existed mostly as a point of debate amongst the auditing fraternity. This may soon change, as continuous auditing has become a topic of great interest, especially in the last decade. This may be due to a combination of reasons. In the last decade, much of the confidence in auditors’ reports was lost due to corporate governance scandals. This also brought about a greater desire for faster, more reliable reporting on which to base decisions. This desire has been transposed into regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley act in the United States, which encourages real-time auditing activities, which would benefit from continuous auditing. A second, possible contributing factor to the heightened interest in continuous auditing is that much of the requisite technology has matured to a point where it can be successfully used to implement continuous auditing. It is the technologies which form the focus of this research. It is therefore, the primary objective of this research to investigate and identify the essential technologies, and identify and define their roles within a continuous auditing solution. To explore this area, three models of continuous auditing are compared according to the roles of the technologies within them. The roots of some auditing technologies which can be adapted to the paradigm of continuous auditing are explored, as well as new technologies, such as XML-based reporting languages. In order to fully explore these technologies, the concepts of data integrity and data quality are first defined and discussed, and some security measures which contribute to integrity are identified. An obstacle to implementing a continuous model is that even with the newly available technologies, the multitudes of systems which are used in organisations, produce data in a plethora of data formats. In performing an audit the continuous auditing system needs to first gather this data and then needs to be able to compare “apples with apples”. Therefore, the technologies which can be used to acquire and standardise the data are identified.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Cost-benefit analysis of land restoration in the Assegaaibos Catchment Area with regard to water yield and tourism benefit

  • Authors: Currie, Bianca
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Reclamation of land -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Assegaaibos Catchment Area , Land use -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Assegaaibos Catchment Area
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10751 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/726 , Reclamation of land -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Assegaaibos Catchment Area , Land use -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa -- Assegaaibos Catchment Area
  • Description: With the emergence of the new field of resource economics, one now has the ability to value and to include natural resources in decision making. This thesis aims to explore the valuation of natural resources by reviewing the economic values, techniques, methods and ecological aspects of restoration. Assegaaibos mountain catchment in the Western Cape Province has been used as a case-study example. A cost-benefit analysis of the restoration of the mountain catchment, in terms of the direct benefits of water and tourism, has been performed. The costs of restoration were observed to see whether they outweighed the benefits (income) derived (water and tourism). The results show that the water and tourism benefits did outweigh the costs of a basic restoration scenario. However, the basic restoration scenario did not fulfil the ecological requirements of the project. The results also illustrated that in the moderate restoration scenario, costs only outweighed the benefits when a three percent discount rate was applied. With the optimistic restoration scenario, costs outweighed benefits only when an eight percent discount rate was used. In the comprehensive restoration scenario, costs were shown to outweigh by far the water and tourism benefits over a thirty-year time frame. However, it should be noted that the deterioration of the environment (accelerated erosion, reinvasion, reduced water quality) was not factored into the costs of failure to rehabilitate.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Establishing the benefits of implementing an I.T. project management office in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area

  • Authors: Martin, Michael Ronald Charles
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Project management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Computer network resources , Information technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9266 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/558 , Project management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Computer network resources , Information technology -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Management
  • Description: The well-known concept of a Project Manager managing an I.T. project in relative isolation is no longer a viable option for organisations that are running numerous projects simultaneously. Due to the enormous costs and risks involved in many of these projects, there needs to be a means to ensure success. This has led to the establishment of the concept of a Project Management Office (PMO). An autonomous business unit that is responsible for managing all projects within an organisation. The need for a Project Management Office (PMO) to effectively manage multiple projects is becoming more and more accepted worldwide. The benefits of a PMO are well documented, but whether these benefits will apply to organisations within the NMM area needed to be investigated. A detailed analysis of the benefits of Project Management and in particular a PMO, have been investigated by means of a literature study. An investigation into the effectiveness of PMO’s in South Africa in general, was conducted by means of a survey targeted at a group of I.T. Project Managers located in all the major centres. A further survey was conducted among local I.T. managers to determine their current level of success and their expectations for the future. When reviewing the expectations of local I.T. management against the performance of Project Managers that are currently operating within PMOs, it is clear that organisations within the NMM area are in need of PMO’s and would certainly benefit from their establishment.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Evolving a secure grid-enabled, distributed data warehouse : a standards-based perspective

  • Authors: Li, Xiao-Yu
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Computational grids (Computer systems) , Computer networks -- Security measures , Electronic data processing -- Distributed processing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9738 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/544 , Computational grids (Computer systems) , Computer networks -- Security measures , Electronic data processing -- Distributed processing
  • Description: As digital data-collection has increased in scale and number, it becomes an important type of resource serving a wide community of researchers. Cross-institutional data-sharing and collaboration introduce a suitable approach to facilitate those research institutions that are suffering the lack of data and related IT infrastructures. Grid computing has become a widely adopted approach to enable cross-institutional resource-sharing and collaboration. It integrates a distributed and heterogeneous collection of locally managed users and resources. This project proposes a distributed data warehouse system, which uses Grid technology to enable data-access and integration, and collaborative operations across multi-distributed institutions in the context of HV/AIDS research. This study is based on wider research into OGSA-based Grid services architecture, comprising a data-analysis system which utilizes a data warehouse, data marts, and near-line operational database that are hosted by distributed institutions. Within this framework, specific patterns for collaboration, interoperability, resource virtualization and security are included. The heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the Grid environment introduces a number of security challenges. This study also concerns a set of particular security aspects, including PKI-based authentication, single sign-on, dynamic delegation, and attribute-based authorization. These mechanisms, as supported by the Globus Toolkit’s Grid Security Infrastructure, are used to enable interoperability and establish trust relationship between various security mechanisms and policies within different institutions; manage credentials; and ensure secure interactions.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Factors influencing high school learner's acceptance of marketing messages via short message service (sms)

  • Authors: Wang, Hui
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Direct marketing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , High school students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9353 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/641 , Direct marketing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , High school students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Description: Cell-phones and the Short Message Service (SMS) have become an important part of people's lives, with significant implications for communication and information transmission. The SMS, based on its versatility as a personal and direct medium of communication, provides an excellent means of marketing and also a possible avenue to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) for marketing its programmes. However, the success of such mobile (SMS) marketing depends largely on its acceptance by high school learners. The objective of this study was to determine whether Port Elizabeth’s high school learners are likely to accept marketing messages of the NMMU via SMS. This objective was achieved with the relevant literature study and empirical study. The literature study provided an overview of mobile marketing, mobile advertising and a detailed discussion of the SMS as a marketing tool. The various factors that might influence cell-phone users’ acceptance of mobile marketing were also reviewed. The relevance of these factors to mobile (SMS) marketing was tested using a model developed by Bauer, Barnes, Reichardt and Neumann (2005: 186) as the basis. (ii) The empirical data were collected by means of a survey, and using a self-administered questionnaire. Based on a systematic sampling, 480 respondents from 17 feeder schools of the NMMU in Port Elizabeth were selected, 417 completed the questionnaire. The empirical findings showed that most Port Elizabeth’s high school learners owned a cell-phone, their most used form of SMS was text messaging and that they are keen to receive study information from the NMMU. The data of the current study did not fit the model proposed by Bauer et al (2005: 186, as shown in Figure 1.1), and also did not fit a modified model (see Figure 3.1). Hence, further analysis and manipulation of the data resulted in a more appropriate model (see Figure 5.7). The study proposes that, Port Elizabeth’s high school learners currently display some acceptance of mobile marketing. The NMMU can consider developing and using mobile (SMS) marketing for promoting its study programmes to high school learners, although it can still not be used as the major marketing instrument. It should be effective if used with push advertising, in conjunction with other media and through capitalizing on the influence of reference groups.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Governing information security using organisational information security profiles

  • Authors: Tyukala, Mkhululi
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9788 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/626 , Data protection , Computer security -- Management , Computer networks -- Security measures
  • Description: The corporate scandals of the last few years have changed the face of information security and its governance. Information security has been elevated to the board of director level due to legislation and corporate governance regulations resulting from the scandals. Now boards of directors have corporate responsibility to ensure that the information assets of an organisation are secure. They are forced to embrace information security and make it part of business strategies. The new support from the board of directors gives information security weight and the voice from the top as well as the financial muscle that other business activities experience. However, as an area that is made up of specialist activities, information security may not easily be comprehended at board level like other business related activities. Yet the board of directors needs to provide oversight of information security. That is, put an information security programme in place to ensure that information is adequately protected. This raises a number of challenges. One of the challenges is how can information security be understood and well informed decisions about it be made at the board level? This dissertation provides a mechanism to present information at board level on how information security is implemented according to the vision of the board of directors. This mechanism is built upon well accepted and documented concepts of information security. The mechanism (termed An Organisational Information Security Profile or OISP) will assist organisations with the initialisation, monitoring, measuring, reporting and reviewing of information security programmes. Ultimately, the OISP will make it possible to know if the information security endeavours of the organisation are effective or not. If the information security programme is found to be ineffective, The OISP will facilitate the pointing out of areas that are ineffective and what caused the ineffectiveness. This dissertation also presents how the effectiveness or ineffctiveness of information security can be presented at board level using well known visualisation methods. Finally the contribution, limits and areas that need more investigation are provided.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Improving certain high performance properties of natural fibres

  • Authors: Chapple, Stephen Anthony
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Textile chemistry , Fireproofing of fabrics
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10451 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/815 , Textile chemistry , Fireproofing of fabrics
  • Description: Cotton possesses many characteristics that make it desirable to the consumer, and this has resulted in its usage in a broad range of products. Cotton, however, is a flammable material that is easily ignited and rapidly consumed. The flame retardant treatment of cotton is, therefore, an important textile process that has received wide attention over many years. There are a number of commercial flame retardant treatments available for cotton, the most common being phosphate-based. These treatments, however, often have drawbacks or have a negative impact on the desirable properties of the fibre and the challenge still exists for designing better flame retardant products and systems that are durable and have limited impact on fibre properties. The study considers the application of the sol-gel as a coating on fabric that was pre-treated with a phosphate-based flame retardant or as a means for applying a phosphate-based flame retardant. Both treatment methods were found to be suitable for imparting flame resistance to the fabric. The effect of various phosphate-based flame retardants on flammability and fabric properties such as colour, handle and strength was investigated and it was shown that a diammonium phosphate and urea combination gave the best flame resistance. In this regard, a flame resistance was achieved with a lower amount of phosphorous than was used in similar conventional treatments. The durability of the coating to rinsing with water and soaping with a detergent was also investigated. It was found that the flame resistance was lost after rinsing or soaping but the prevention of afterglow combustion was retained. It was shown that the preparatory treatment of the fabric influenced the sol-gel coating process and the flammability of the fabric. Mercerisation and bleaching of the fabric increased the “wet pick-up” during the coating process and improved the flame resistance. The influence of various factors was also investigated in further detail. The ratio of the sol-gel components, the delay after coating prior to drying (hang time) and the curing time were investigated using an experimental design. The curing time and the ratio of components in the sol-gel were shown to have the greatest influence on fabric properties and fabric flammability. It was shown that there is a trade-off between the desired high level of fabric flame resistance and preserving the inherent properties of the fabric such as colour, handle and strength.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Information security awareness: generic content, tools and techniques

  • Authors: Mauwa, Hope
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Computer security , Data protection , Computers -- Safety measures , Information technology -- Security measures
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/560 , Computer security , Data protection , Computers -- Safety measures , Information technology -- Security measures
  • Description: In today’s computing environment, awareness programmes play a much more important role in organizations’ complete information security programmes. Information security awareness programmes are there to change behaviour or reinforce good security practices, and provide a baseline of security knowledge for all information users. Security awareness is a learning process, which changes individual and organizational attitudes and perceptions so that the importance of security and the adverse consequences of its failure are realized. Therefore, with proper awareness, employees become the most effective layer in an organization’s security defence. With the important role that these awareness programmes play in organizations’ complete information security programmes, it is a must that all organizations that are serious about information security must implement it. But though awareness programmes have become increasing important, the level of awareness in most organizations is still low. It seems that the current approach of developing these programmes does not satisfy the needs of most organizations. Therefore, another approach, which tries to meet the needs of most organizations, is proposed in this project as part of the solution of raising the level of awareness programmes in organizations.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Investigating the influences of validation on pharmaceutical manufacturing processes

  • Authors: Muller, Damian Christian
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Pharmaceutical industry -- Quality control , Pharmaceutical technology , Drugs -- Standards
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10412 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/566 , Pharmaceutical industry -- Quality control , Pharmaceutical technology , Drugs -- Standards
  • Description: This investigation attempts to examine the influences of validation on pharmaceutical processes especially at a new manufacturing facility that has to meet international requirements, and fulfil a cost effective business strategy. At Aspen Pharmacare, a pharmaceutical organisation, there are two manufacturing facilities situated adjacent to each other, one new and one old. The new facility creates ideal opportunities to supply products to local and international markets. The investigation compares legal requirements from local and international regulatory authorities. Validation and qualification practices as well as the problems encountered during the different phases are discussed. Particular attention is given to the validation approach at the new Aspen facility. Problems and proposed solutions relating to the design review, installation, operational, and performance qualification are discussed. Validation of analytical methods for cleaning analysis, cleaning validation of equipment, and optimisation of some tablet manufacturing processes are described. Statistical evaluations of analytical results are included to find the optimum conditions for integrating new personnel with new processes and equipment. A business model reviews the cost of non-conformances of the enalapril maleate 10 mg tablets manufactured at the two manufacturing facilities. Finally the dissertation proves that validation is not only a regulatory requirement but that it also provides benefits such as adding value to the business, and ultimately reducing the cost of medicines.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Ionic liquids as media for electro-organic synthesis

  • Authors: Kruger, Elna
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Ionic solutions , Inorganic compounds -- Synthesis , Electrochemistry
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10413 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/538 , Ionic solutions , Inorganic compounds -- Synthesis , Electrochemistry
  • Description: The IL’s used in this study were either synthesized or commercially available. Preparation of the IL’s involved 2 step processes: firstly the heating of distilled 1-methylimidazole with distilled 1-chlorobutane under reflux to obtain 1-butyl-3- methylimidazolium chloride; secondly, the metathesis reaction of sodium tetrafluoroborate with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride to obtain 1-butyl-3- methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate. The addition of sodium tetrafluoroborate, sodium hexafluorophosphate and lithium trifluoromethane sulfonamide with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride produced good yields of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide respectively. The IL’s are hygroscopic and must be stored under a nitrogen atmosphere. The IL’s were analyzed using 1H and 13C NMR analysis with CDCl3 as solvent. The physical and chemical properties of these IL’s were compared to commercial products. The physical and chemical properties compared well to reference values from the literature. The physical properties measured include the density, conductivity and electrochemical window. The electrochemical window is dependant primarily on the resistance of the cation to reduction and the resistance of the anion to oxidation. The electrochemical windows of the IL’s were very similar to the reference windows obtained from literature and it can be seen that some IL’s have a slightly lower window which can be due to water present. Water content in the IL’s was determined with the use of a Karl Fischer titrator, with Hydranal 5 Composite as titrant and HPLC grade methanol as the base. The concentration of halide in the IL’s was determined with a Perkin-Elmer ICP-MS.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration of palladium and platinum anions

  • Authors: Gwicana, Sakumzi
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Micelles , Ultrafiltration , Palladium catalysts
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10414 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/518 , Micelles , Ultrafiltration , Palladium catalysts
  • Description: The project was concerned with studying the capability of a micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration system (MEUF) to remove platinum group metal ions namely Pt (lV) and Pd (ll) chloro anions from aqueous industrial waste effluents. South Africa has the world’s largest reserves of platinum group metals (PGMs) and other valuable metals such as manganese, chrome ores, titanium minerals etc. which are required for new automotive and other technologies, including fuel cells, catalytic converters and lighter components. The consistent loss with the industrial waste stream and the toxicological effects of these precious metals led to the need to develop new and effective methods to recover them from industrial waste effluents. With such a wide variety of fields where these PGMs are used and the failure of the traditional techniques namely sedimentation, fermentation etc. to effectively reduce or recover these highly toxic and precious metal ions prior to discharging industrial waste effluents, it is necessary to explore other techniques such as membrane technology that can be used to recover these valuable species from industrial waste streams. The present study involved the use of a cationic surfactant, viz cetylpyridinium chloride, which was introduced into an aqueous solution containing palladium and platinum metal anions. The surfactant forms charged micelles above a certain critical concentration value. The metal anions adsorb onto the available oppositely charged sites on the micelle surfaces and are then able to be retained by a suitable membrane. Hollow fibre ultrafiltration membranes with the MWCO of +/- 10 kD and +/-30nm pore size were used as a filter component in this study. For this MEUF system to be effective, it was vital that the anionic metal ion species adsorbed sufficiently onto the available oppositely charged sites of the micelles and that the micelles were retained efficiently by the membrane. Results obtained during the investigation made it possible to make certain predictions about the micellisation process. It was also found that, it was not only the metal ion: surfactant (M:S) ratio that was critical, but the presence of other electrolytes in the aqueous stream proved to have a huge impact on the capability of the MEUF system. Findings of this research study showed that the MEUF system using cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) can be used to recover or retain Pt (lV) and Pd (ll) anions from industrial waste effluents. It was also found that PtCl6 2-, due to its greater adsorption capabilities onto the micelle surface than PdCl4 2- or PdCl3(H2O)-, was preferentially retained in neutral medium. This may be exploited as a possible means of separating the two metal ions. The developed system offers the following advantages over some traditional and current methods: simplified unit operation line flow process, smaller amounts of chemical usage and no solid toxic sludge to be disposed of. Applications of this work could be of vital importance in catalytic converter recycling, especially in Port Elizabeth where extensive automobile parts manufacturing occurs.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Synthesis of P-Methane-3,8-Diol

  • Authors: Mpuhlu, Batsho
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Insect baits and repellents
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10411 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/570 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011717 , Insect baits and repellents
  • Description: The synthesis of para-menthane-3,8-diol in a batch reactor was investigated in some detail with the view to evaluate the potential of producing said p-menthane- 3,8-diol in a continuous-flow reactor from the results obtained from the batch process. The methodology used as base for this investigation was a published procedure by Takasago of Japan. The Takasago-method produced 92.3 percent Yield for the product para-menthane-3,8-diol, and 2.7 percent Yield of the by-product, acetal. The objective for this investigation was to produce a minimum p-menthane-3,8- diol content of 97.0 percent and a maximum content of 3.0 percent for the by-product acetal. The batch production process was evaluated in detail using statistical experimental design methodologies. Three process variables, namely catalyst loading, organic/aqueous phase ratio and reaction temperature were selected for the study. The experimental method was based on the Takasago procedure, however the substrate was added as a single slug as opposed to gradual addition method and the reaction period was reduced to 30 minutes. Apart from statistical analysis, mechanistic aspects were also used to interpret the following results. Using a central composite design, three response models (one for the conversion of citronellal, p-menthane-3,8-diol and acetal formation) were determined. An analysis of the response surfaces indicated that, to increase the citronellal conversion all three variables should be increased. To increase the amount of pmenthane- 3,8-diol, the reaction temperature and acid concentration should be increased, but the Aq/org ratio should be decreased as the acid catalyst concentration is increased. To minimize the amount of acetals formed during the reaction, the Aq/org ratio should be decreased; temperature and acid concentration can be decreased or increased. The reaction mechanism suggested that p-menthane-3,8-diol may be formed along two pathways: One pathway directly forms p-menthane-3,8-diol, whilst the second pathway forms the isopulegol first, then proceeds to form product by hydrolysis. The acetal is formed as result of the reaction between unreacted citronellal and p-menthane-3,8-diol. From the design experiments it was suggested that reaction time can be reduced to 8 minutes at reaction temperatures between, 80-85 0C The product and acetal were isolated by simple vacuum evaporation of the low boiling citronellal and isopulegol. Results from recycling the catalyst phase were similar to those of the initial process. The results of this investigation has clearly shown that with a proper understanding of the effect of process variables on the performance of the batch synthesis route, the conversion of this traditionally batch (actually semi-batch) process into a continuous process is quite feasible provided that suitable equipment is available. The most important features required for such equipment would be: Intense mixing throughout the reaction zone so as to maximise the surface area between the two immiscible phases, hence the rate of mass transfer between the two phases; and the ability to run reactions above the boiling point of water. Plans for the further study of the process are already well underway and sections of static mixing tubes have been acquired to build a continuous lab scale tubular reactor that would be capable of providing the level of mixing required.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

The application of quality models and techniques in selected SMMEs in the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Murray, Andrew Thomas
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Quality management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9608 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/832 , Business enterprises -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Quality management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: With the increase of imports from China and more pressure being put on the Small, Medium and Micro enterprises (SMME’s) from their larger customers, survival has become more and more difficult, quality is no longer being a choise but a prerequisite if the companies want to survive. This research evaluates the use of quality and productivity or the lack thereof in selected SMMEs in the Eastern Cape environment from both the SMME and Larger companies’ point of view. The research has focused on the effectiveness and understanding of what has been put in place by the SMMEs, what is available for the SMMEs to use, governmental support, and the requirements of the customers. Certain shortcomings have been highlighted as to the use and benefits of the processes that have been implemented. The researcher made use of both quantitative and qualitative data to determine the outcome of the research. The thesis concludes that the SMME sector knows the importance of the use of quality; it is the effectiveness and management thereof that is the concern.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

The effective combating of intrusion attacks through fuzzy logic and neural networks

  • Authors: Goss, Robert Melvin
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Computer security , Fuzzy logic , Neural networks (Computer science)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9794 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/512 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011917 , Computer security , Fuzzy logic , Neural networks (Computer science)
  • Description: The importance of properly securing an organization’s information and computing resources has become paramount in modern business. Since the advent of the Internet, securing this organizational information has become increasingly difficult. Organizations deploy many security mechanisms in the protection of their data, intrusion detection systems in particular have an increasingly valuable role to play, and as networks grow, administrators need better ways to monitor their systems. Currently, many intrusion detection systems lack the means to accurately monitor and report on wireless segments within the corporate network. This dissertation proposes an extension to the NeGPAIM model, known as NeGPAIM-W, which allows for the accurate detection of attacks originating on wireless network segments. The NeGPAIM-W model is able to detect both wired and wireless based attacks, and with the extensions to the original model mentioned previously, also provide for correlation of intrusion attacks sourced on both wired and wireless network segments. This provides for a holistic detection strategy for an organization. This has been accomplished with the use of Fuzzy logic and neural networks utilized in the detection of attacks. The model works on the assumption that each user has, and leaves, a unique footprint on a computer system. Thus, all intrusive behaviour on the system and networks which support it, can be traced back to the user account which was used to perform the intrusive behavior.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

The electrochemical synthesis of 3-tert-Butyl-4-Methoxybenzaldehyde

  • Authors: Qusheka, Sivuyile Emmanuel
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Oxidation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10410 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/595 , Oxidation
  • Description: This project was concerned with the evaluation of three potential synthetic routes for 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, a useful fine chemical intermediate and ingredient in many sunscreen agents. The three synthetic routes all involved the selective oxidation of the 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxytoluene to the desired benzaldehyde by (a) catalytic air oxidation, (b) direct electrochemical oxidation, and (c) indirect electrochemical oxidation. In order to decide whether catalytic oxidation should precede the alkylation of 4-methoxytoluene, the selective oxidation using the well-known cobalt(II)- bromide catalyst system in acetic acid solutions were investigated with the view to determine whether increased electron density on the aromatic ring improves selectivity to the desired benzaldehyde or not. In addition, the effect of various important reaction variables was also investigated. These studies showed that increased electron density, hence increased substitution, increases the desired benzaldehyde selectivity. In addition, while reaction conditions such as reaction temperature, catalyst concentration, water concentration, etc. may be optimised for maximum 3-tert-butyl-4- methoxybenzaldehyde yields (~80 percent), such yields can only be achieved at relatively low (<40 percent) alkoxytoluene conversions. The direct electrochemical oxidation of 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxytoluene was investigated in methanol solutions containing various supporting electrolytes and using constant current electrolysis with the intention of optimizing the production of 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxybenzyl dimethyl acetal which can later be hydrolyzed using sulfuric acid to the 3-tert-butyl-4-methoxybenzaldehyde. In this study, various parameters such as supporting electrolyte and electrodes were studied. Previous studies showed undoubtedly that methanol as a solvent gave better results amongst the rest of the solvents. Indirect route was also studied as a method of synthesizing 3-tert-butyl-4- methoxybenzaldehyde and compared to the direct electro synthesis.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Towards a framework for identity verification of vulnerable children within the Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Rautenbach, James
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Biometric identification , Information storage and retrieval systems , Children -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9792 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011702 , Biometric identification , Information storage and retrieval systems , Children -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: This dissertation proposes the development of an identification verification model that can be implemented within the context of the Eastern Cape, South Africa in order to ensure that vulnerable children are provided with the requisite care that they deserve from the state. The dissertation provides both a developed and developing world perspective on the identification verification needs of vulnerable children by providing an overview of relevant South African policy with regard to caring for vulnerable children and presenting an international perspective with specific reference to current legislative developments in the United Kingdom and Malaysia. Chapter 1 provides a motivation for a framework to be used for the identification verification of children in developing countries by emphasising that the provision of basic social services to children is an urgent requirement for poverty eradication and is a necessity as documented in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. A background to the needs of vulnerable children in South Africa is given and the scope, limitations and research methodology used in the dissertation is presented. Chapter 2 provides an overview of child related policy in the South African Context both from a National Government and Eastern Cape perspective. Although extensive progress has been made in the development of policies aimed at protecting vulnerable children, the practical implementation of these policies has been hampered by numerous issues including the lack of coordination between key entities. Chapter 3 provides an introduction to several noteworthy international developments with regard to the identity verification of vulnerable children. Lessons learnt from identity verification systems from the United Kingdom and Malaysia are analyzed for applicability to the South African context. In addition to this, the use of biometric technology in identity verification systems and a number of biometric identification methodologies available are discussed. Chapter 4 proposes the development and implementation of a biometric identity verification model in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa based on lessons learnt from the assessment of South African policy and international best practice. The system should be piloted in the Eastern Cape and, if successful, be implemented throughout South Africa with a possible view to future implementation on the African continent. The scope of the system, the technological requirements and a high level implementation plan together with the need to further research certain key aspects e.g. the cost implications are discussed. It is clear that the development of such a model and the implementation of such a system will ensure that vulnerable children are provided with the requisite care that they are constitutionally entitled to. Significant follow up research is required during the development of the model to ensure that all aspects of the model are well documented and during the implementation of the system to ensure that the requirements of the users both within the government and the general public are met.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

Using agreements as an abstraction for access control administration

  • Authors: Reyneke, André
  • Date: 2007
  • Subjects: Information -- control and access , Computer security -- Management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9791 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/598 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011701 , Information -- control and access , Computer security -- Management
  • Description: The last couple of decades saw lots of changes in the business world. Not only did technology change at a rapid pace, but businesses' views with respect to the role that information plays also changed drastically. Information is now seen as a strategic resource. This change paved the way for the so-called knowledge worker that not only consumes information, but actively participates in creating new knowledge from information. Employees must therefore be empowered to fulfill their new role as knowledge workers. Empowerment happens through job redefinition and by ensuring that the appropriate information is at hand. Although information is more readily available to employees, appropriate access controls must still be implemented. However, there is conflict between the need to share information and the need to keep information confidential. These conflicting needs must be reflected in the administration of access control. In order to resolve these conflicts, a finer granularity of access controls must be implemented. However, to implement a finer granularity of access control, an increase in the number of access controls and, therefore, the administrative burden is inevitable. Access control administrators must cater for a potentially large number of systems. These systems can not only be heterogenous as far as architecture and technology are concerned, but also with respect to access control paradigms. Vendors have realized that human involvement must be minimized, giving birth to so-called "provisioning systems". Provisioning systems, in principle, automate certain parts of access control administration. However, currently implementations are done in an ad hoc manner, that is, without a systematic process of identifying the real access control needs. This study aims to address this problem by proposing the "agreement abstraction" as a possible vehicle for systematically analyzing the access control requirements in a business. In essence, the agreement abstraction allows us to identify opportunities where access control can be automated. A specific methodological approach is suggested whereby the business is analysed in terms of business processes, as opposed to the more traditional resource perspective. Various business processes are used as examples to explain and motivate the proposed agreement abstraction further. This dissertation therefore contributes to the field of discourse by presenting a new abstraction that can be used systematically to analyse access control administration requirements.
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  • Date Issued: 2007

A framework for secure mobility in wireless overlay networks

  • Authors: Chen, Hejun
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Wireless communication systems , Computer networks
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9778 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/819 , Wireless communication systems , Computer networks
  • Description: Various wireless networks are widely deployed world wide. Current technologies employed in these networks vary widely in terms of bandwidths, latencies, frequencies, and media access methods. Most existing wireless network technologies can be divided into two categories: those that provide a low-bandwidth service over a wide geographic area, for example UMTS, and those that provide a high bandwidth service over a narrow geographic area, for example 802.11. Although it would be desirable to provide a high- bandwidth service over a wide coverage region to mobile users all the time, no single wireless network technology simultaneously satisfies these require- ments. Wireless Overlay Networks, a hierarchical structure of wireless personal area, local area, and wide area data networks, is considered as an efficient and scalable way to solve this problem. Due to the wide deployment of UMTS and 802.11 WLAN, this study attempts to combine them to implement the concept of Wireless Overlay Net- works. Furthermore, the information transmitted over this Wireless Overlay Networks is protected in terms of authentication, integrity and confidentiality. To achieve this goal, this study aims to combine GPRS, Mobile IP and IPSec to propose a framework for secure mobility in Wireless Overlay Networks. The framework is developed in three steps: Firstly, this study addresses the problem of combining GPRS and Mo- bile IP, so that GPRS users are provided with Mobile IP service. This results in presenting a uniform Mobile IP interface to peers regardless of whether mobile users use UMTS or 802.11 WLAN. Secondly, this study discovers the existing problem when combining Mobile IP and IPSec, and proposes a Dual Home Agent Architecture to achieve secure mobility. Finally, based on the output of the previous two steps, a complete framework is proposed, which achieves secure mobility in Wireless Overlay Networks, specifically, in UMTS and 802.11 WLAN. The framework also implements seamless handover when mobile users switch between UMTS and 802.11. This results in UMTS and 802.11 WLAN looking like a single network when participating in this framework, and presents seamless and secure mobility.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A fuzzy logic control system for a friction stir welding process

  • Authors: Majara, Khotso Ernest
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Friction welding , Fuzzy logic , Automatic control , Fuzzy systems
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9594 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/405 , Friction welding , Fuzzy logic , Automatic control , Fuzzy systems
  • Description: FSW is a welding technique invented and patented by The Welding Institute in 1991. This welding technique utilises the benefits of solid-state welding to materials regarded as difficult to weld by fusion processes. The productivity of the process was not optimised as the real-time dynamics of the material and tool changes were not considered. Furthermore, the process has a plastic weld region where no traditional modelling describing the interaction between the tool and work piece is available. Fuzzy logic technology is one of the artificial intelligent strategies used to improve the control of the dynamics of industrial processes. Fuzzy control was proposed as a viable solution to improve the productivity of the FSW process. The simulations indicated that FLC can use feed rate and welding speed to adaptively regulate the feed force and tool temperature respectively, irrespective of varying tool and material change. The simulations presented fuzzy logic technology to be robust enough to regulate FSW process in the absence of accurate mathematical models.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2006

A holistic approach to network security in OGSA-based grid systems

  • Authors: Loutsios, Demetrios
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:9736 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/550 , Computer networks -- Security measures
  • Description: Grid computing technologies facilitate complex scientific collaborations between globally dispersed parties, which make use of heterogeneous technologies and computing systems. However, in recent years the commercial sector has developed a growing interest in Grid technologies. Prominent Grid researchers have predicted Grids will grow into the commercial mainstream, even though its origins were in scientific research. This is much the same way as the Internet started as a vehicle for research collaboration between universities and government institutions, and grew into a technology with large commercial applications. Grids facilitate complex trust relationships between globally dispersed business partners, research groups, and non-profit organizations. Almost any dispersed “virtual organization” willing to share computing resources can make use of Grid technologies. Grid computing facilitates the networking of shared services; the inter-connection of a potentially unlimited number of computing resources within a “Grid” is possible. Grid technologies leverage a range of open standards and technologies to provide interoperability between heterogeneous computing systems. Newer Grids build on key capabilities of Web-Service technologies to provide easy and dynamic publishing and discovery of Grid resources. Due to the inter-organisational nature of Grid systems, there is a need to provide adequate security to Grid users and to Grid resources. This research proposes a framework, using a specific brokered pattern, which addresses several common Grid security challenges, which include: Providing secure and consistent cross-site Authentication and Authorization; Single-sign on capabilities to Grid users; Abstract iii; Underlying platform and runtime security, and; Grid network communications and messaging security. These Grid security challenges can be viewed as comprising two (proposed) logical layers of a Grid. These layers are: a Common Grid Layer (higher level Grid interactions), and a Local Resource Layer (Lower level technology security concerns). This research is concerned with providing a generic and holistic security framework to secure both layers. This research makes extensive use of STRIDE - an acronym for Microsoft approach to addressing security threats - as part of a holistic Grid security framework. STRIDE and key Grid related standards, such as Open Grid Service Architecture (OGSA), Web-Service Resource Framework (WS-RF), and the Globus Toolkit are used to formulate the proposed framework.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2006
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